The Lost Art of Letter Writing

For the last 13 or 14 years of my life, I have had a Pen Pal.  Remember what those were?  Strangers in foreign countries that you wrote to and sent cool stuff from your country to them.  They were great to have, at least for me.  I would look forward to letters from Mari (PP's name), particularly around Christmas time.  She was from Norway and sent me the best stuff.  Magnets, a small pillow, a snow boot keychain.  Now that we are older she sends photos of her son, Ben.  

However things have changed.  We e-mail each other, chat on Skype or MSN Messenger, and we never send letters anymore.  (In fact, I haven't spoken to her in a long while.)  

In an age where the world seems smaller because we are only an e-mail or Facebook message away, should we still write letters?  I think so.  I miss them.

Letters are so much more personal.  They are written in the writer's handwriting on paper they selected.  Letters have a feel, a weight to them; they smell like hands and fingers and perfume.  When you get a letter, read a letter, you can imagine the writer writing it.  Letters are more like gifts.  They take time and effort.  They seem to say more than what is written on the page.  

You can decorate your letters, fill the envelope with confetti, spray them with perfume, seal them with kisses.  You can NEVER seal an e-mail with a kiss.  You can NEVER spray an e-mail with perfume.  Or send your favourite shirt attached.  (But who knows with technology.  In a few decades maybe they will figure out how to do it.)

A physical birthday card, is still better than an e-card from Blue Mountain.

Letters were an art-form.  There was a special way to write them.  It was rare that they were sent in anger, as most people would have patched-up their differences before the letter arrived.  Letters brought news and told of news to come.  They always seemed happy, positive.  

If they were sad, you could cry over a letter.  You tears could become a part of it, smudging ink.  You could tuck a letter away in the back of a draw, between the pages of a favourite book.  A  letter could be your talisman.  

So I guess my challenge to you is to write a letter and post it to someone you know.  Or, if you don't know anyone, post one to me.  

Maelynn

P.O. Box N7145

Nassau

The Bahamas

I will be happy to receive your letter and send one back to keep this art alive.