Tuesday, August 21, 2012
On the Move
The shuffling of folding boxes. The screeching of packing tape. The towers of books and the mountains of dishes. And the gentle wave of dust that inevitably settles on everything.
The pains of packing and unpacking are many and are topped by several sleepless nights as we move through the process.
Yet there are a few unexpected highlights. The long-forgotten articles I saved from old magazines. The mementos from childhood, thought lost for years. And the letters written by family and friends almost two decades ago.
Letters. Yes, words written by hand on neatly folded crisp sheets hidden inside pretty envelopes decorated with kind words or pretty stickers, and, occasionally, an ink spot or two. It must be years since I last received one and seeing the yellowing papers and faded ink I realized how much I miss them. But I am just as guilty of resorting to the faster and cheaper email as the persons who I wish still wrote real letters to me. By hand. With a pen and a paper.
Do you still write and get letters? Do you feel it is a lost art?
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I do feel like it's a lost art. I received a letter last week, and I need to write one myself. I haven't written a letter in quite some time, though. I wonder why this went out of style. I used to write so many.
ReplyDeleteI am glad so many of us still feel "warm and fuzzy" about letters. Yet I think if I actually wrote a letter to someone now they'd probably ask whether my computer is broken...
DeleteMy grandma used to write long letters and mail them to us (at a time when she couldn't afford a long phone call). I wish I had saved one.
ReplyDeleteI know - they are such little treasures!
DeleteRarely do I write a letter on a piece of stationary. (there's a lost word) But I do often take the time to write in cards. I worry when I stumble trying to write cursive - is that part of my brain so weak from lack of use?
ReplyDeleteI think we can fall out of practice - since starting work almost two decades ago, just as computers became mainstream in every industry, my handwriting has become progressively worse!
DeleteI still write thank you cards but you're right it isn't really done anymore. Too bad.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we can start a trend, bring letters back :-)
DeleteDefinitely a lost art... Sadly. Especially informal chatty letters. I think there is still a small place for business- type formal letters but even that is fast disappearing in favour of email. Shame...
ReplyDeleteI think you are absolutely right! Even in business it is almost all email - unless we are making a formal submission of some sorts.
DeleteOnly to and from my kids. :) This was beautifully written!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Peggy :-) I am lucky to have letters from my mom and grandmother and I started keeping the little notes and cards I wrote for my little one and the ones she wrote to me- maybe they will make her happy one day too.
DeleteI am proud to say that a friend of line from 7th grade still exchange cards and letters. It isn't as often anymore though. I think letters are a lost art. I really do miss them!
ReplyDelete