July 19, 2026: Physical Letters

         I have always loved writing letters.  I think it started when I was a girl scout more than 60 years ago and became pen pals with a girl I had never met, but our troops wrote to each other.  Yes, these were the years before digital and electronic communication, so the options were more limited, but I grew to adore writing letters and wrote them frequently.

         I have been thinking a lot about my letter writing lately, as I just finished the book The Correspondent by Virginia Evans.  The entire novel is told through the letters that the main character writes to a variety of people in her life.  I loved the book and the idea that our correspondence can be so illuminating.

While I adore email and texting, and certainly take advantage of both on a daily basis now, I am also one of those older relics who will not let go of physical correspondence. I love pretty stationery and cute cards. I enjoy the process of hand-writing, and mailing out greetings to friends, family, and loved ones. I still send out physical Birthday and Holiday Cards- no email birthday wishes from me.  And sometimes just drop a note or letter in the mail to a friend to let them know they are on my mind and in my heart.

Yes, digital greetings are quicker and cheaper.  But what is lost when we no longer send physical letters? I always mail out handwritten thank you notes- especially to my students and their families. It brings me joy to have them come in to the classroom with an ear-to-ear grin and say that they got my letter. And loved it! 

The joy of finding an unexpected connection arrive at your door. Being able to set a card on your desk or shelf to enjoy and give reminders of how much someone cares for you.  Noticing the beauty of the paper or pen color used. Physically holding it in our hands.

No matter how old we are, there is still joy at finding an unexpected card or note in our mailbox.  Send one out today to someone you have been thinking about.