Oh happy day. I got on a letter writing roll and did little else today besides read letters and write some in return. It seems that staying on top of letter writing is the best way to feel like writing letters. When I'm behind on something procrastination increases with the backlog. As you can guess, I've been procrastinating; but, after writing a single letter yesterday I was jump started and today was fully engaged in conversation. I'm calling it a good letter day. Going off topic, have you seen this YouTube video of the little Russian girl who walks on ice for the first time? She's bursting with cuteness. It'll be worth fourteen seconds of your time. Put your coffee down though or you might spill it. Now don't you feel mean for laughing? I couldn't help it either. It's a good thing little kids are so close to the ground.
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Sunday is such a good day for writing letters. Did God give us a day of rest so we could catch up on laundry? No! It'll still be there until Monday. With the onset of spring and recent rain to clear the valley air, I sat in the sunshine today for the first time in months and soaked it all in. I also wrote a letter; destination: Australia. I enjoy letters to Australia because I imagine my friends there living in opposites from us. Just as our weather is warming up, theirs is cooling down. What is it like to have Christmas in summer? I'll have to ask. I suppose it just seems normal to them like Christmas in winter is for us. I'll save that question for December and enjoy the season of the moment. Not only was today a sunshiny day, writing a letter made the world seem a small place. I hope your Sunday was a day of rest too.
I've noticed that in the last couple months my mail box has slimmed down a little. I attributed this to the recent holiday rush and the onset of winter gloom. Then I found it...a stack of letters from November...all un answered. Can I blame Mr. Duffy for this somehow? They likely got set aside when things got rearranged for Christmas. Yes, I'm just now getting to that stack of things in the corner. Yes, it's true, I grew blind to it. So...I've got letters to write! Conversations to catch up on.
Maybe, just maybe it's time to get myself one of those letter logs that organized people used. I hate the thought of adding paperwork to pleasure but it might be a good thing. So, how do YOU keep your correspondence organized? This is the first of a series of twelve installments on the benefits of handwritten communication. This series had its beginning in a conversation with So-Jin. She asked for my thoughts and I wrote them out as they came. It is in this order that I will write about each benefit. As this topic comes up in correspondence or comments the series my grow beyond twelve. I always appreciate your input for it is from you, Dear Pen Friend, that I have learned about handwritten communication. Benefit One: Thoughtful Communication
This is probably near the top of everyone's reasons for writing letters. Never before in the history of communication has there been so much spoken with so little said as in the present time. From email to text messaging to social media thoughts and messages are tapped out and sent off almost faster than the thoughts behind them. Impatience is the rule of the day and time can't be spared to spell complete words it would seem. We are all of us affected by the force of technology and those of us old enough to remember living in an analogue, pre-digital age will be aware of the change in our expectations and our growing impatience. Handwriting a message counters that impatience. It forces us slow down and slowing down allows more room for thought, for better self-editing. When we pause to think about what we are saying we are better able to communicate an elevated thought or a nuanced idea. Handwritten communication serves as both the occasion and the vehicle for thinking ideas through. In the handwritten letter 120 characters will not do and there are no "Like" or "Dislike" options. More than minimal mental effort is required. In our day of instant messaging and social media handwritten communication is more needful than ever. Thoughtful communication is a benefit of putting pen to paper because writing makes both time and place for thought, that precious process so easily yielded up to the expediency of technology. Who can not be inspired to write letters when a penpal sends you such charming stationery as this hummingbird set? Oh how careless of me. I placed the pen over the the hummingbird. I took the picture with my daughter's Nexus 7 tablet since it is oh so convenient for taking pictures and emailing; and it's not like I've charged my camera battery recently and...no...I will not retake the picture. I've already returned the tablet and this will have to do. Take my word for it, it's lovely. In addition to stationery, Kathleen also sent a Mozart CD. How did she know I'm a fan? I don't think I've ever written to her about music. So, with Mozart playing softly, lovely stationery and new sealing wax (Waterson's Scottish Mura wax) along with a new celtic cross seal I was feeling inspired. To complete the inspiration, Mr. Duffy put on a war movie in the other room which drove me to seek out quiet. I found it. What inspires you to write?
In a comment on a previous post, More On Jane Austen, Mr. Hodgson told me about Scotland's oldest free lending library. I was intrigued and thought it worth passing on. The Innerpeffray Library was founded in 1680 and is Scotland's first public library. At the time of its founding "making books available to ordinary people free of charge was unprecedented." I would love to see the Borrower's Register and am certain it would prove fascinating. Thank you, Mr. Hodgson, for directing me to one of Scotland's treasures!
Knowing I'm a Jane Austen fan Kathleen sent me this postcard. I enjoy Austen's sense of humor. It is in the class of wit belonging to genius. This is now one of my favorite quotes. Thanks, Kathleen!
The postcard reads: Expect a most agreeable letter, for not being overshadowed by subject--having nothing at all to say, there shall be no check to my genius from beginning to end. Have you ever written a letter like this? My son is away from home for another month and is not checking his email. Snail mail will be more reliable in the end so I sent him this note: After I wrote it I realized the irony and thought it a funny letter to have to write. I do not expect a response, but I do hope he responds to the email I sent him. (But a real letter would be nice too!)
P.S. I must say that in my correspondence with him affixing a postage stamp and melting sealing wax afforded me more pleasure than clicking send...but then you knew it would. |
Letter Matters
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