18 Comments

Aww, yes! I hadn’t written a true handwritten letter in years before two of my sons joined the Marine Corp a few years back. For months it was our only form of communication and I cried every time I opened the mailbox and saw their beautiful writing on an envelope. Sometimes there were several as they also wrote to their many siblings. Those letters brought so much joy to our hearts and revived our letter writing practices. Silly as it is, it did feel old fashioned to walk down our hill to retrieve the mail and slowly walk up while reading a treasured letter.

Expand full comment
author

Oh, Devon I love the image this paints in my mind! Truly a treasure those letters were and are.

Expand full comment

As a calligrapher, I adore this. I’m such a fan of letters- I will never let the custom fall to the wayside. I do love it all.

Expand full comment
author

Elizabeth! This is speaking your language! Thank you for being a keeper of the beautiful, meaningful ways

Expand full comment

So beautiful.

Expand full comment
author

Tansy gets me every time. Perfect yellow buttons

Expand full comment

Carmella, I do miss letter writing! In my younger years I used to keep in touch with friends I had met whilst travelling. The thrill of finding a letter in the post was like Christmas day!! I can still remember, as a teenager, writing to my uncle who was away serving in the forces overseas and desperately waiting for his reply! I know we have the convenience of email now but it's not the same thrill.

Expand full comment
author

What memories, Lynne, of corresponding by letter with your uncle. And you're so right, receiving email is just not the same.

Expand full comment

I've been writing our youngest who is currently in basic training for the Air Force. I love writing letters and being able to hold something in my hand, see their handwriting, and be able to read and re- read it.

Expand full comment
author

Yes, it's like rewatching a good movie. Once isn't enough!

Expand full comment

Oh yes! I love sending cards, letters by mail. I have a few friends who also delight in the hand written letter. When we moved back to the Midwest from living in Eastern PA for 15 years I received notes from friends who missed us. So sweet and thoughtful.

I keep a couple of drawers in my desk dedicated to supplies for card making, yes it takes time to make a card, but letting someone you know that they are thought of takes time also, and we all need that .

Expand full comment
author

So wonderful, Melissa, that you have a few friends who love it, too! You're right, we all need to feel thought of and cared about. Yes

Expand full comment

I have been thinking about this too, trying to revive the art of letter writing in my own life. I’ve sent letters to my sister and one of my best friends this year, but they didn’t write back. When we talk via other methods more regularly, I understand why it’s easier to keep up on text and video chats than sending letters in the mail. I’m happy to continue sending thank you notes and little notes on postcards, but it did make me sad to think about missing out on the back and forth correspondence of letters. I’ll keep trying though. I think letter writing is like music--it can be replaced by digital replications and reduced to something you just consume, but there’s something much deeper lost in the transition. There’s just nothing like writing or playing music from your own soul, even if only one person benefits from it, especially if it’s meant just for that person.

P.S. Your photo is so beautiful!

Expand full comment
author

I love your analogy with music and handwritten letters. Yes, it's like that! Keep trying!

Expand full comment

Carmella:

It sure seems that the old fashioned Note/Letters are no as prevalent in times ago. Oh my goodness just to receive Birthday, Just Because cards….. so delighted. I use to always go to the prettiest Stationary shops and the selection was beautiful, so elegant and simple too.

I always was very good at handwritten letters

then seems like the new wave started. Lost and gone away.

This is so sweet, thoughtfulness, to have received an hand written letter. Love this.

I have ( cannot part with them) the handwritten letters. from my Mom and Dad when we were always resided out of state.

Thank you,

Pic is Exceptional

Expand full comment
author

My aunt had saved a boxful of my Dad's letters home when he was in Vietnam, then for a couple years after he returned home. In one of the letters, he described proposing to my Mom! I didn't even know these letters existed until she pulled them out one day when I was there. Such a treasure!

Expand full comment

I love hand writing letters, notes, holiday greetings, postcards….. I keep a stash of supplies in a box that both my husband & I can dip into when we want to send something snail mail. Anytime I go to the post office, I check out the new stamps for inspiring & colorful postage.

I’ve struggled w arthritis in my writing hand so I don’t write as often as I used to. I must admit, my writing used to give me a “sense of pride” but no longer & that saddens me. I send notes, cards & stickers to my grandchildren, 7, 6, 5 & 4, which they love. Gosh, who doesn’t love getting mail. Thanks for sharing this post. It put a smile on my face!

Expand full comment
author

What a wonderful story and heritage of letter writing, Christine! Inspiring. I love that you send notes and stickers to your grandchildren! Yes, who doesn't love getting fun mail?

Expand full comment