Comments on: The Lost Art of Letter Writing

By: Pamela

Pamela — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 05:19:23 +0000

I love your POV on this subject. I think the “new” letter is the greeting card. I bought a blank one today, pretty with a bicycle and flowers on it to send a poem to my grieving Mother in-law. It’s a poem that my mother (or perhaps it was my father) placed on the wall of my childhood bedroom. It’s brought a lot of comfort to me over the years so I plan to share it with her. To answer your question, Suz, I think I miss crisp bed sheets we tucked into on summer nights, fresh from the bath, still itchy from playing in the yard, fluffy pillows to cradle our sleepy heads. And poems placed just so that we could see them from our beds and feel loved always!

By: P. D. (Debbie) Hurst

P. D. (Debbie) Hurst — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 02:46:02 +0000

My 19 year old, Marie, has taken up the now-seemingly-ancient art of letter writing. She corresponds with a couple of friends via mail, often with 15- to 20-page letters. She has a busy life, but she loves getting and sending letters. Also, Suzanne, you are a beautiful blogger (that is, I really enjoy reading your blog!).

By: Suzanne Vince

Suzanne Vince — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 19:54:16 +0000

In reply to Nancy J.. How wonderful, Nancy. Is this the woman I met when we did the Wildflower century?

By: Nancy J.

Nancy J. — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 00:49:03 +0000

Great topic. I have my daughter write thank-you notes when she receives special gifts because I think it’s important; but I no longer have anyone in my life who I actually write to. It was my adopted grandmother (who is now 98) who I used to write to back and forth because she never used a computer. She used a typewriter when her handwriting became difficult to read and we wrote back and forth for years. I’m so thankful for her letters now because she has Alzheimer’s and they reflect a time when she was vibrant and full of life. It’s amazing the history they hold. I have probably 1,000s of emails stored on Yahoo and they certainly don’t have the same impact.

By: Suzanne Vince

Suzanne Vince — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 19:10:16 +0000

In reply to Marianna Heusler. Do it! And show her how much fun it is to get one. Maybe it will catch on!

By: Suzanne Vince

Suzanne Vince — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 19:09:41 +0000

In reply to Melissa Lewicki. How wonderful, Melissa. He gave you back a part of yourself. I have every card my mother has ever given me and I put them in their own special scrap book. Just an idea.

By: Suzanne Vince

Suzanne Vince — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 19:08:28 +0000

In reply to Paisley Kirkpatrick. I still send hand-written thank you notes and cards. In fact, just mailed off 2 birthday cards and 3 thank you notes today. Love getting them, too, though it happens so rarely. I must say, though, I've sure received a lot of cards in the mail during my recuperation. Every one of them made my day. *hugs*

By: Paisley Kirkpatrick

Paisley Kirkpatrick — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 16:09:54 +0000

Waving hand wildly. I am one of those oldies who still hand writes a letter or thank you note. I had 41 foreign pen friends – starting in 1989 and up to today with several of the same friends. A couple of weeks ago we were in Wisconsin for my hubby’s class reunion. Several people were so kind that when we got home I wrote out five thank you notes and mailed them. Believe it or not, I got a phone call from one of the men thanking me for the thank you note. My sister in law was stunned to receive theirs. I thought HOW SAD that those kindnesses are gone now. I don’t think a text thank you note would have had the same affect.

Huggles, Suzanne.

By: Melissa Lewicki

Melissa Lewicki — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 16:07:49 +0000

I have saved hundreds of letters that my family and friends have sent me over the years. A couple of years ago my dad gave me a great gift: all the letters I had written to him as a child. My parents were divorced and Dad and I kept in touch by letter. He had saved all of mine.
Wonderful post.

By: Marianna Heusler

Marianna Heusler — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 14:44:41 +0000

Great post. There is nothing like a handwritten letter or even a little note. I am most distressed that cursive is not really taught in schools anymore and everyone thinks that dashing off an e-mail is the same as taking the time to take out nice white heavy stock paper, a gel pen, write, buy a stamp, and mail. I still have some of the handwritten letters written to me by my aunt (long gone) and they mean so much to me. (Must write a letter to my niece today!)