The Art of Letter Writing

[Previous Rural Farmgirl, April 2009 – May 2010]
Of all the skills of “days gone by,” I think the lost art of letter writing has to be the hardest to see go. I remember being a young girl, spraying the paper with my favorite perfume and signing it with Xs and Os. And I remember how special I felt when a letter came in the mail, how I would run up to my room and tear it open, anticipating a note just for my eyes.

Even though I am not that great at spelling, I never let it prevent me from writing. I assumed that those getting handwritten letters would consider it just part of my “style,” a part of me just like the words I chose and the paper on which it was written all reflective of who I was at that moment in time.
As a parent I have been equally saddened that there aren’t really any formal writing lessons in school anymore. I recall my boys getting upset with me when I would make them redo homework because it was not legible. Block letters, cursive, calligraphy…they are all so beautiful. I like a loopy style of cursive myself, the loopier the better. I am not sure when we decided that letter writing wasn’t worth keeping around. I suppose it is like most other things, if you can get a machine to do it, then why not. And most of us don’t like our own penmanship, so being able to click on a scroll-down bar and grab any style you want is a great deal. Yet I miss running to the mailbox and getting a letter. Actually, going to the mailbox and getting anything other than bills or junk mail would be a treat.
I wonder what the future will be like when there are no more letters to be found. No letters shoved between the floor boards in an old house or discovered in a grandmother’s trunk, telling the tale of the great love between her and grandpa. No more cherished letters between old friends and family, letters to help us remember a loved one that we lost…those wonderful pieces of paper that you grab and curl up with a box of Kleenex, prepared for the very best and the worst.
I have decided that it isn’t too late to bring them back. While I continue to journal as I have done all my life, I think that I will make a conscious effort to write letters to my kids. When that day comes and I am no longer here, they will have my words hand-written on stationery that I hand-picked, words that I carefully selected and inscribed with a pen and sprayed with my favorite perfume. I hope those letters will hold onto a hint of me, so that in those moments when they can’t quite recall my voice or my laughter and humor, they will recall that quirkiness about me.
We have let go of a lot of things in our quest for modernization. We became more global and instant. That’s okay as long as we can remember to slow down and hold onto those things that are worth holding onto. Things like the art of letter writing.

  1. Carrie says:

    Hey Rene-

    Totally agree with you! It is part of the reason I don’t email all that much because I am a diehard letter writer! I write them to my kids, to my long distance friends, and to anyone on my heart. I don’t write as much as I did when I was young, but I still make time for it. I think that "penpals" are still the bestest!

    I have hung on to letters between girlfriends and me since highschool. I love to open them up and read them over and go back in time with the words…such a pleasure!

    One of my old highschool friends still writes to me regularly, so we enjoy our long distant (she is in TX, me in NY)relationship in the same way we always have even though we both have email. It is just something very special to both of us.

    Carrie

  2. Nicole Campbell says:

    I always hand write a little note in all my Christmas cards. I hate those "form" letters people are putting in their Christmas cards these days. Seems so unpersonalized.I enjoyed reading your thoughts and it inspired me to also write some overdue letters. Thanks!

  3. Jamie says:

    I too wrote letters to my son when he was an infant and put them in envelopes for him to open somwday when he is older. When I send cards for birthdays or other occasions I take the time to write in the card rather than just signing it. I also send a letter about every month or so to my husbands grandma who lives very far away in another state, I hope it brightens her day to receive the letters in the mail. While I love and will not give up emails, I try to incorporate hand written letters into my correspondence on a regular basis. I too love receiving hand written letters in the mail and still am thrilled each time.

  4. Gary says:

    Ohhh…!
    You are singing my song here Rene’…
    I also MISS cursive writing, and rue my own neglect of it. I volunteer at the Library, and spotted a book (Caligraphy for Kids), so I checked it out, and that got me started reclaiming my writing skills.
    I hate to admit it, but I sit and write just like I did in 1st Grade: AAAAAAA aaaaaaa BBBBBBB bbbbbbb etc…
    Oh Dear Lord it is even more boring now than it was then, but I am gradually getting it back.
    Now when I write a Birthday or Christmas card, I get a call and the question:
    "Where did you learn to write like that?"
    Where else… Mrs. Kimbrough’s 1st Grade Class of course.
    GodSpeed to Y’all…!
    Gary
    in Tampa

    I hope the age old writing on the PeeChee never goes out of style… I practiced and practiced and practiced writing my name on that old thing….Still isnt perfect, but I love the practice…..

  5. guinnevere says:

    I have 2 daughters that i keep personal journals for. I write different things in each of their journals whether i am writing about how proud i am of something they have done or sympathizing with broken hearts. These are journals they will get when I pass on. I write about my childhood in these journals-about funny things i did, how their grandmother danced like a ballerina while listening to classical music. It is a hodge-podge of insight into things we might not ever bring up. This is my letter writing to my girls. Perhaps they will have wanted to know or hear these things in person but time and distance often make this difficult. This way it is in Hard Copy and they can read it over and over again in my handwriting.

    Ginnevere,

    What a precious, precious gift second only to you being present in their lives I am sure….What blessings they will be.

  6. LaRue Miller says:

    I personally write to friends and to family members. My parents really get mad if I do not write at least every month. They are in their late seventies, so do not have a computer. My siblings do not have computers either and are scattered about. My brother living officially in Alaska and currently physically in Canada as his son is playing hockey there so I write tgo his Alaskan address. I love to write them all plus as I said assorted friends. I feel letter writing is a lost art. And now I hear 700 post offices are closing down, so this should tell us something. I hope my children are saving my letters, but who knows what they are doing.

  7. Donna says:

    I sat back and sighed after reading your thoughts on letter writing…..I SO agree!!
    What I wouldn’t give to find a handwritten letter from one of my late grandparents or a long lost relative!
    How I cherish the deeply moving letters my late husband wrote to me…
    And I can’t tell you how meaningful my 4 year old Grandson’s hand written name and mine, "Granny" are when he hands me that piece of paper.
    I am convinced that just about everyone loves to get a handwritten note….written especially written for them….
    let’s not stop!
    Thanks again for shaing your thoughts!

    Donna

    Beautifully written Donna…. Takes us all back, doesnt it?

  8. Dot Abrams says:

    The art of lettering writing…funny this should be your blog topic today…last summer when my 23yr.old daughter left her job in the city, to slow down and reflect and plan her future…she apprenticed on an organic farm in Kentucky. Working with her hands, nurturing something was the what she felt would give her insight. When she pulled out of the drive, we knew cell phone reception was weak where she was going…so we made a pack to hand write letters. NO EMAILS…ONE PHONE CALL A MONTH…that was our deal. Inside our letters, we tucked feathers, sand from creek beds, a pressed flower…treasures we shared with one another. Those things along with the thoughts and happenings of the week drew us closer in spirit. She has returned home…started her own organic farm and occasionally I will find a hand written note with a treasure on top, on the buffet, kitchen table, bathroom or nightstand.
    The art of letter writing will be practiced here for as long as I live…and I feel sure my daughter will keep it in practice also. It has been a blessing to us.

    Dot,

    How precious. I can see it, feel it, taste it. Maybe we should committ to it once a year.. A detox of sorts.. were we shut it all down and pick up a pen and some beautiful stationary, take walks on the beach or country roads and let our hands write what our hearts feel.. what a world THAT would be… thanks for blessing my day with your memory… Love the thought of your daughters farm. Keep me posted.

  9. Nancy Chaney says:

    Thank you, Rene, for the reminder that people are still connected by emotions, sometimes expressed through loopy penmanship, a spritz of perfume or pretty stationery. Like you, I miss finding something other than bills or junk mail in the mailbox, although it’s still nice place to strike up a conversation with neighbors! The death of handwritten letters is a sad reminder that my mom and mother-in-law are both gone now. The handwritten letters they sent me through the years are treasured all the more, but your blog is a timely reminder that they are not the exclusive domain of generations past.

    Hey Nancy,

    I refuse to beleive that it is "dead".. rather more… needs a little shot of Vitamin B………….LOL, Let’s bring it back… shall we..

  10. bonnie ellis says:

    I love those days also. Letters kept in a precious hair ribbon from my grandma or husband of 47 years. I love old lace, hankies, buttons, pictures; all of it. Thanks for saying it Rene. If you send me my address, I’ll be glad to write you a letter. Thanks

    I would love letters: I’ll even write back!!!

    Rene’ Groom/RuralFarmGirl

    C/O MaryJanesFarm

    1000 Wild Iris Lane

    Moscow, Idaho. 83843

  11. Kaaminii says:

    I love letters, and I agree it’s a sad thing to see them go! I still write my best friend in N. Idaho as she doesn’t have running water, let alone internet!

    It’s such a joy to see her handwriting on the envelope when I take the mail from the box on my way in the house after work. Almost makes those darn bills less painful!

  12. Missy says:

    My husband and I still write love letters to each other…and they are my most prized and cherished item I will ever own. I like to use my old ink pen and yes, we have an old fashioned iron mailbox that we leave them to each other in!

  13. Ruthann Wilkens says:

    I would LOVE to hear from other farm girls. I would like to see pictures of your farm and your critters.
    Ruthann Wilkens
    15034 St. Marys Rd.
    Brookville In.
    47012
    Hope to hear from you girls.
    Ruthann

  14. Eileen says:

    all I can say is what ever happen to penmanship class in school. That was the first calss after the start of the day in the little one school room in Orchard nebraska. Those were the best days of school, and all that you could learn and kids have forgot all of the time they have in school now.

  15. Sara says:

    I love writing letter and collecting stationary and notepaper. I am old enough to remember when part of your personal household stuff was great writing paper, notecards, etc. I am lucky because my daughter is currently living overseas so I still enjoy the weekly newsy family letter that I mail off to her.

  16. I made the greatest friends when I was young, through letter writing. Pen pals from Sri Lanka and friends whose families moved out of town. And, I just recently connected with a friend who I met as a Pen Pal (through Big Blue Marble) who saved my letters from junior high because they encouraged her later to become a Christian. You never know the impact handwritten letters have on a person. When I got more involved in photography, I began making my own cards (using my photos on the front) and writing more notes. I think it’s only a lost art if we stop the creation! Let’s not buckle under the e-pressure!

  17. Teri says:

    I, too, write letters. Every Friday morning I write to my three granddaughters. Yes, they all live in the same house but still they get their "own" letter. My daughter has told me that they wear the letters out, opening them, unfolding and then putting them back into the envelope. She and her husband read them aloud again and again. Soon the middle one will be able to read for herself. The oldest informed me one day that she could read cursive, that was a big day for me. She went from being Lizzie to Liz this year, another step. I find them in the toy box, under the bed and being used as a bookmark (a trick she learned from me) but I know they are well read and keeping in contact with them is the most important part.
    I also keep in contact with my best friend from high school in our annual letter. We email and talk on the phone but the letter in her Christmas card means so much to me, I hope we never stop.
    I never get over the thrill of opening the mailbox to find actual handwriting, then to hurry up the driveway to read my letter. Have a wonderful afternoon.

  18. Annie says:

    YES! Some of my most cherished items are cards from my grandparents who are no longer living. I, too, make an effort to send personalized, hand-made cards for birthdays and Christmas. I find it rude of friends to send "automated" Christmas cards. I often wonder how genuine of a friend they are, or if I’m merely a number as in "how many Facebook friends I have." My closest friends and I will surprise the other with a card or letter, especially when they are having a difficult time. It’s like a hug and kiss send through the mail seeing our own, true, unique signature.

  19. Gracie says:

    God moves in mysterious ways……our youngest adopted son has been out of touch with the family for many months and we have determined as a family to try to reach him through letters. Your timely typing on the subject of letter writing spurs me on to write to him and others. Thanks!!! I’m so glad I surfed my way to Mary Jane’s site not long ago. I feel blessed by the community sharing, reminding me of my rich, rural, roots, and the importance of nurturing relationships I believe my loving Creator enables me to have.

  20. Pat says:

    Hi Rene

    I use to have beautiful penmanship but I’ve seen it deteriorate over the years as I’m writing less long hand and typing more. I’m making more of an effort to write letters and cards to family and friends and journal by hand in order to keep in practice.

    Did you know that many states school curriculum’s are not even teaching cursive penmanship anymore? Many children only learn how to print and keyboarding has replaced cursive as the priority in most schools.

    Let’s hope the art of penmanship is not lost entirely in the next generation!

    Thanks, Pat

    Boy Pat I am with you~ there is something so unique about someones own handwritting that needs to not get lost in the name of progress….

  21. Karissa says:

    I still get excited to pick out stationary that represents my mood or season and to grab my favorite pen (usually a colored gel)to send off a note to friends and family. We live in such a microwave society though that if they haven’t heard from me (via email or phone) I get a call…arghhh! I do have a pen pal from Australia that I’ve written to since 4th grade (I’m now 50+). I have always encouraged (ok insisted) that my children send hand-written thank yous for gifts that they receive. I have sent b-day & wedding gifts and not received any form of acknowledgment that the gift was received. Frustrating! I hope that mothers and/or teachers would continue to promote this tradition as well. Great ideas in the comments.

  22. Denise says:

    Wow!!!I’m impressed and very pleased to see so many people willing to help maintain what is thought to be a dying art.As I mentioned a few blogs ago I make an effort to write once a week.The anticipation of waiting for a reply is also part of the reward.

    Feel free to email me your snail mail.. I will see what I can do 🙂  Rene@MaryJanesFarm.org

  23. Debbe says:

    Oh I so enjoyed reading your blog about writing letters! When I made scrapbooks for both my sons, their main request was "please,Mum, do it in your handwriting!", and also, my youngest son was married this year and for their engagement present, he asked for a binder of my favourite recipes, again, all in my own handwriting please Mum?!!

    I was very pleased also, when at the wedding, my former husband came up to me and said" What is it with you Debbe? Everyone I meet from our old life is always saying" oh I just got a letter from Debbe, or "Oh I just got a postcard from Debbe, or a birthday card or whatever"…so he said to me " what the heck is it with you, do you keep in touch with EVERYBODY??!!"…and I quietly said "yes, if they are my friends, then they are my friends, whether I have moved a thousand miles away or not"….he also said ( while we were married) "when you die Debbe, there are going to be so many people coming up to me and saying ‘oh Debbe always sent the nicest littel notes and letters…"

    So, in my mind, that is a lovely thing to be known for, a lovely thing to be remembered for…I cherish letters and notes. Whenever my fiancee and I are apart for a night, we always leave a little note tucked in the others suitcase or under their pillow…just a few lines to say that we love and care for each other, that we will be thinking of the other one while we are away….I was touched to put away some of his laundry the other day( he normally does it) and I found PILES of my little notes tucked into his underwear drawer that I had written to him….

    I love nice stationery, and spritzing my nice Irish perfume over the pages, using peacock blue ink in my pen, tucking in little articles or a recipe or a pressed flower or a photo and sending it off to my former mother-in-law ( a lovely, lovely woman), or to a friend who has lost her job, or just to say ‘hey, I am thinking of you"…long may letters live and thrive!!

    I adore emails and my computer but I would die without my little box of nice cards and pretty stickers and such…it only takes a few moments and it means so much!!

    Thanks for this lovely blog…

    Warm wishes from northern Ontario, Canada
    Debbe

  24. Laura says:

    When I saw you were from the wheat field of eastern WA. it took me back to the few summers I got to visit grandparents that lived on the Lemon ranch between Garfield and Steptoe. My Grandmother and her 4 daughters were letter writers to the extreme.One daughter lived in Michigan, one in Illinois, one in Idaho and one in WA. Very seldom did a week go by that our mailbox did not have a fat letter full of pictures, letters (some being passed along to each sister) or news articles from the paper. I felt I knew most everything about my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins because of those weekly letters. I know my skills at such good and constant communication are sorely lacking. Keep up the good work. I hope handwriting skills so not become a lost art. I will practice being more careful. Laura

     

  25. ladylocust says:

    I am so glad to see that I am not the only outcast of email society. I love to write and rcv. letters. If you enjoy writing letters, I strongly recommend using a dipping fountain pen. It forces one to slow down when writing, just what we all need to do once in a while. Also, the words look so much more sincere in "real" ink. Give it a whirl ~ enjoy!

  26. Antoinette 'Toni' Myers says:

    Hi Renee,
    I am ‘so pleased’ to see the article on letter writing.
    I am a letter writer, with the LOOPY kind of writing !! ;o)
    I love to send personal notes, with ‘stamping’ & ‘stickers’, etc., I’ll have to start putting ‘perfume’ on them, I forgot about that.
    I enjoy ’email’ personal notes, but really ‘enjoy’ sending and receiving a ‘real handwritten’ note !!
    Yes, I too remember ‘handwriting class’ in grade school ;o)
    Thank you Rene for your ministry, as part of Mary Jane’s Farm !!

  27. Jessi Cowell says:

    I think you are right, that most people have stopped exchanging letters. I exchange letters with my Granny who is 88 and with a family friend who turned 99 last Friday. These Ladies don’t have computers and hearing on the phone is sometimes a challeng, so letters are good. I’ve tried to get my neice and nephew to start as well, but they seem to be too busy to sit down and do it.
    I wish more people wrote, it’s always exciting to get a letter in the mail and seems more personal than email.

  28. S. Hoover says:

    Dear Rene,

    I can only agree that letter writing is certainly becoming a lost art – and an art form it certainly is! Writing was one of my favorite subjects in school, so writing letters was always very simple for me, and my style has always been very conversational, and definitely from the heart.

    I recently lost my job from a company that I was extremely loyal to for 23 years. They were implementing an "Expense Management Plan" and those involved in the implementation were "hard core". However, I had worked with so many wonderful people for all of those 23 years, that only heartfelt letters of gratitude, and expressions of my feelings for them in the written word would do. These letters came from the heart, and I know how much they were appreciated. The man who hired me 23 years ago wrote back to me, and told me how my words made him cry… I don’t think that an electronic communication would have evoked those emotions quite the same way.

    Shortly after losing my job, my husband and I celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary. Each thank you card was written personally, with heartfelt sentiments. You simply cannot imagine how many people let us know how much those cards meant to them!

    So, I say right along with you: People, keep on writing! It really means so much to those who receive your cards and letters! It can change a persons day, their outlook, and maybe even their life!

    Thank you Rene, for bringing up a subject that truly needs attention in this fast-paced life we live in.

    Sincerely,
    S. Hoover

  29. Diane says:

    Oh, how I miss writing letters. Email stinks but a modern day necessity. I bought my Gram stationary for Christmas every year as she was a great letter writer – not only with U.S. friends and family, but overseas too. I had penpals for years. I also miss Christmas/Holiday cards. I remember them hanging from huge ribbons on our fireplace mantel and across the archway between our livingroom and diningroom. One year, we received over 100 cards. Mom and my Gram would cut them into hexagons, crochet trim around two cards glued together – sometimes with plastic to protect the cards, and then sewing the pieces together to make baskets. And perfumed stationary – heady scents. My handwriting isn’t all that great, but I’d love to bring back exchanging letters instead of emails – although I cherish them too. Thanks so much Rene for wriggling my memories!!!

  30. Cheryl says:

    Lost art of letter writing…I have refused to "blog" although I have emailed and thought it a great timesaver! I have written my daughter letters forever…as a baby I did it monthly so that she could go back and read about her life…they are stashed in her baby book…I didn’t refer to it as journalling…just a letter…now I write her a letter on her birthday…I have suggested that she do the same for her daughter. My grand daughter is about to turn three and I am sure that she will find a letter addressed to her dated August 26th from her grandmother….I’m with you the lost art of writing letters…sad…but along with the fountain pen I plan on it being a part of my legacy.

  31. Cheryl says:

    Rene,

    Just like you, I used to send all of my letters with a fragrant of my most favorite perfume as a personnel touch. Every morning, my Mother-In-Law would write letters to her relatives and friends with so much joy and looking forward to opening the mailbox to see a reply. She would get so many responses which made her day a happy one. Now, her mailbox is empty. No one sends letters anymore. Thanks for the memories of keeping in touch with treasured letters.

  32. Patricia says:

    While I too miss "hard copy" letters and rue the loss of my penmanship, I would like to extol a few of the virtues of email and phone conversations, lest we lose sight of them.
    Letters and postcards used to cost less than 15 cents to send. Now sending cards and letters is very expensive, especially at Christmas. I wouldn’t want cost to interfere with sending my love and best wishes to friends.
    Cards and letters are costly to the environment. Not just in terms of trees but also the energy resources used to move them from one place to another.

    So my comment really has to do with finding the right balance between the "old ways" and the new to support meaningful lives with care for the planet.

  33. Cindy says:

    My mother-in-law and I were just commenting on the "lost art" of letter writing. I still like to pick out pretty stationary and write a friend that I haven’t seen in a while and "surprise" her with an actual handwritten letter. Nothing can compare with a personalized letter written just for you. It means that the person sending it actually took the time to pick out which paper to use and write with their very best handwriting their own personalized thoughts. Reading this blog, I say there’s still plenty of us around to keep this art alive!

  34. Michele says:

    Dear Rene’,
    Loved this blog about letter writing. I have started exchanging letters with some of the girls at the MJF website. We have so much fun catching up with each other about our lives, dreams and everyday "stuff". It is so comforting to carry around a letter in an apron pocket and reread it throughout the day.
    I would like to get a "round robin" letter started. One person writes the first entry and sends it to the next person who adds their letter and sends it on. It keeps going until it comes backe to person #1 who reads all of the letters and adds her bit, and so on…..
    Lots of fun, too!

    I think that many of the Maryjanesfarmgirls are "keepers of the art" where it comes to letter writing, ( and a million other lost arts). I have certainly been on the receiving end of some. I find that I am a  renegade of sorts and I rarely do anything that I "Outta"… spending more time in the world of "wanna". I tend to be too spontaneous to be a part of an organized effort as it refers to letter writing… However, I am thrilled that there are those that are. I admire and respect you all that can send letters as a discipline.. maybe some day I will be mature enough to do that 🙂  .. when I grow up that is 🙂  thanks Michele the world needs more writers like you….

    You can see what Michele is referring to my going to http://www.maryjanesfarm.org and then clicking on the "chat with other farmgirls" once registered just search for Letter Writing in the search on the top right of your screen~~ Michele represents so many of the amazing farmgirls out there….

  35. Laurie Munc says:

    I too love letters! We have some from my husbands family, written in the 1800’s. The ones that really get me are the condolence letters, They are sooo morbid, i.e. "the chair he will no longer sit in, the hall he will no longer walk down …. Can’t imagine getting a letter like that. But the old letters are so great to have.

  36. Margie says:

    Hi Rene,
    I agree with you, letter writing is a lost art. I am not very wordy, but I still like to write to my friends. I enjoy making cards and using my own sentiments in them. Your blog is very interesting and I enjoy reading it. MaryJanesFarm is one of my favorite places to visit. I am a farm girl at heart, only don’t like the work. Libraies are my haunt, not only working there but visiting them when in other cities. Keep up the good work.

  37. suzy says:

    Hey Rene’, I too have always been a letter writer. My husband and friends have received letters from me when we have had a misunderstanding or I felt they needed encouragement. My letters are never unkind. I’m just better at writing how I feel instead of saying it. It has become sort of a joke among those who know me. "Oh, you have received one of Suzy’s letters",with a chuckle. I also write cards and letters to our oldest daughter in California, she also sends beautiful cards that have been selected with much thought. I remember reading a quote saying they hope technology never excedes humanity.( Not sure exactly how it went , but you get the idea)I agree 100 %. Love to all, Suzy ( Texas)

  38. Kathy Eckholt says:

    Hi I love wrting letters, I write to one sister each and every week I haven’t missed a week in almost five years, and I have a friend who is behind bars, and i feel that all I can really do for her is write, so I do, each week, and have recently reconnected with a childhood friend and try to write to her a couple of times a month, my handwriting isn’t so great, but i know how I feel when I receive a letter, so hopefully they feel the same way.

  39. O'Dell says:

    I’ve always enjoyed writing…most of my friends dont write back any longer, since the internet. I have written poetry,however, by hand since I took a literature class 10 yrs ago. Days when I enjoy the outdoors the most, the words come to me. I worked at a retirement home at that time, and would read my poetry to the folks at the home, after lunch. They seemed to really enjoy it, as did the owners, my bosses. These poems I will leave to my children & grandbabies someday. I also have a large collection of old letters from siblings & friends….even a few from my gram written in the 1970’s before she passed away in 1978. The letters from my siblings tell of their new babies born in the 70’s….and they now have babies of their own…I think letter writing is not "dead", but just slowing down ….I am also writing a novel….hopefully to publish sometime.

  40. marmee says:

    i love the fact you addressed this topic…some think it not important but in fact it is a lost art. if you check my blog profile it is listed as one of my favourtie things…handwritten letters. my darling hubby has blessed me over the years with so many wonderful handwritten notes, cards, poems and secrets. i love when i receive them…they mean something special forever.
    i could recommend a book i try to give to young girls in my life.
    "the art of the handwritten note" by margaret shepard

  41. I have been talking about this very subject with my husband!
    I would love to get a "snail mail" from any of you!
    Linda Koetitz
    PO Box 164
    Paradise, UT
    84328

  42. Judy says:

    In answer to Cindy’s comment on 8/7 regarding the cost of postage and energy resources, a letter currently costs 44 cents and post cards are 28 cents – not exactly going to break the bank. As for environmental costs, how much energy is being used to keep all the computers, monitors and printers going, not to mention in the manufacture of them?

    Just some other thoughts for the balance she suggests. I think we can write all the letters we want without feeling guilty about the environment. A great number of emails are printed anyway. Thus no savings in paper and ink even.

    So use your personal writing tool (hand) and spark your own creativity (a font of your making) by sending a one and only original letter. Now that is special!

  43. M.E. says:

    I am so pleased that there are so many whom still enjoy a hearfelt written lett. I send out letters every week. I do not get many written replies. But I use this a a ministry to women in my life. Thank you for all of your comments.

  44. Patricia says:

    I love this entry… I am 21 years old and I write letter to two of my girlfriends. One lives in Philadelphia Pennsylvannia which we haven’t seen each other since I was 12 and have talked on the phone 2 times. The other one lives outside of Hot Springs, Arkansas and we met when we were 17 at a Journalism Camp in Virginia. I reside in the great state of West Virginia. I truly love to write in journals, write letters the old fashioned way (including an ink well with a feather pen) and I love to write Children’s stories and poetry. I also collect stationary. I truly love to open up the mailbox or come home to a letter addressed for me waiting at my place setting at the dinning room table. For me recieving a personalized "snail-mail" letter is like recieving a Christmas gift. I like to also think that I am keeping a little bit of history and a dying art alive.

  45. TefeCaftger says:

    Very Interesting!
    Thank You!

  46. TefeCaftger says:

    Very Interesting!
    Thank You!

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