Letters in the mail

There's just something about getting a hand-written letter or card, especially if unexpected. I'm one who still sends "real" cards and always put some sort of little notation in it. I used to write lots of letters as well...and still do from time to time. Like someone else mentioned, I've got some nifty stationery and always thought, growing up, it was just the epitome of style and class to have engraved monogrammed stationery, something, to this day, I've still never bought although I do have non-engraved business & personal stationery & envelopes around most of the time.

I love shopping for and discovering just the right card for friends and family. Finding the perfect card takes some time, thought and a trip to the store, whereas an e-card basically says "I care so much I couldn't even pop $2 on a Hallmark and I'm sitting here on the computer in my ratty bathrobe and found this online."

And with most e-cards, you can pick them out and set them to be emailed MONTHS ahead of time so you don't even have to be bothered to actually remember a special ocassion...just make it look like you did.

I have one elderly aunt...actually, she's my last surviving aunt, come to think of it. She's 97 and lived on her own & drove till about two years ago but her mind started to go after she broke her ankle & was laid up with that. I send a letter every month or so - nice stationery, fountain pen, etc. Her daughter says it's always a high point when she gets a letter from me. My cousin says she can be having a gray, sullen week but her whole attitude brightens when she gets a letter, and she talks about it for days. At times I feel a little sad or guilty that she can't remember her own grandkids and great-grandkids, but she can remember the number of days since she got a letter from me and exactly what's going on up her, according to my latest "dispatch from the front."

A handwritten letter or note takes more time and thought than just tapping away at the keyboard - there's no automatic spell checker, backspace, delete, or cut-n-paste with a handwritten letter...

I have a pen pal in Germany, we have written to each other for 10 years so far, always by hand and always including real photo's. I love it. I also send tangible cards, birthday, christmas etc. And I'm always sending post cards.

I write to my Grandma consistently, usually postcards though. I started last year while I was studying abroad. I got into the habit of sending her mail, so I kept it up even after I moved back to the U.S.

Sometimes I'll send a postcard or note to high school friends that I don't live near, though I don't do this nearly often enough.

I'd say I probably send more mail than I receive. I love having something tangible from other people.