As a young teenager living away from home for high school the Post Office was my lifeline to the outside world. I diligently wrote letters to family and friends. And then I would wait - wait for a reply. Every day at lunch I would check my mailbox, anxiously anticipating a letter or post card. I could always count on at least one letter a week from my mom, and often an aunt or grandma would jot me a note. Usually the news was routine - an update on daily life. It wasn't the content that mattered so much. It meant more to me that someone took the time and effort to write me a letter.
Letter writing is a dying art, and my excitement for daily mail has waned. During the holidays I still get some "fun" mail, but even that isn't what it once was as people switch to electronic holiday greeting cards. These days the mailbox is usually full of junk and bills.
Recently I came across A Month Of Letters Challenge. Mail at least one item on every postal day in the month of February. That's only 24 days. The item doesn't even have to be handwritten. This challenge has renewed my interest in mail and letter writing. I'm late to the party but have jumped on board for the rest of the month. Who knows. Maybe this will light a long-term letter writing spark.
To enhance my letter writing quest I may be using Yarnvelopes for my knitting friends. An envelope that doubles as a record for a knitting project. What a clever idea!
My color inspiration for the week comes from an old box at Slater Mill.
Colorful bobbins nestled amongst gears.
4 comments:
What a coincidence...my husband and I were just having the discussion (again) yesterday about the death of the hand written letter now that everyone's "linked in" and in a hurry. It breaks my heart; I used to write letters daily, before the internet took over. Thanks for reminding me to keep at it...the only problem now will be to find someone to write to.
I spent a lot of time preventing boredom in high school (made AP English bearable) and again at one of my more boring jobs by writing letters. I used to make my own stationery (just cutting designs from wrapping paper and gluing them down). I even ended up corresponding with the friend of a friend because we both were into rug braiding at the time. I don't know if it is a lost art so much as just something that doesn't occur to people. I still check the mail every day expecting there to be something besides bills and junk.
Martie,
That's a good point. It takes some thought to come up with people to write to. Maybe we need pen pals . . .
Ah, Karen. You are the eternal optimist.
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