This year I have written three letters; two to my 95-year old grandmother and one to my youngest brother, Jim.
While we were growing up, I remember my mother being diligent about us writing thank you notes to relatives for gifts that we received. I didn’t view it as a terrible thing to do. I enjoyed it.
Recently I went through a stack of old memorabilia I’ve kept in a drawer and was surprised to find several letters from my dad, two from my grandfather, one from my brother Jack and a few from my mother. Some of them were fun to read. My dad, a constant doodler who was an inspiration in my own artwork, always had some doodles in the body of his letters. The one letter I cherished most of all included a separate piece of artwork that he had done just for me. A very large, politically oriented doodle. It’s also the last letter I ever received from dad.
One of the letters from my grandfather was a disheartening one that he had addressed not just to me, but to my brothers as well. It was in reply to a letter I had written to him in which I poured out my heart over the fact my parents had announced they were divorcing. Grandpa basically turned his back on myself and my brothers. I can’t speak for my brothers, but I didn’t speak to Grandpa for several years. Later on I put the hurt behind me, but my relationship with Grandpa changed.
Most of my mother’s letters are on cards that she paints or draws upon. She has a very nice script and a great sense of humor. Although I rarely write to her, she always is writing to me, or sending me clippings of interesting things from papers and magazines.
Before the computer arrived in my life, I wrote more letters to people. I’m discovering that the computer has had that effect on a great many people.
I love the fact that the computer has opened up the world to me, and I have friends all over the country, but my skills in being able to communicate via a letter has ground almost to a halt. My spelling, something I was once so proud of, has also taken a beating. I also find that those times I do “speak” to people online via chat or email, it lacks true personality. It’s missing thought. And worse, so very often, what’s said in chatrooms or email is often misinterpreted.
I know I’m rather late in the year for making resolutions, but this is one I feel I am more apt to commit to. I will be handwriting more letters to relatives and even friends.
What about you? When was the last time you handwrote a letter? How often do you write letters or cards? Let me know your opinion.
