Savoring Letters

I love letters. I love writing them. I love receiving them. Letters harken back to the days when that was the only means of communication between people who lived further than a couple miles. Why, even if you lived close you could send a note or letter because, hey, there were no phones. Just think about any Jane Austen film, or book, and at some point someone is getting a folded, wax-sealed letter or note. Ah yes, letters are definitely something that has still hung around despite the technological age of computers and phones. You still write letters (type) one a computer. They have not died.

That being said, while I love letters, I’m quite terrible at replying to them. It’s not that I don’t want to reply, but well, I savor letters. If someone sends me one, I read it over and over, or mull over it, or think. The minute I start replying to a letter, I start to forget what was in the letter. It’s like this mind emptying thing. So I hold off on replying to letters. I’m sure people wonder if I am ever going to get back to them. Mrs. Austen would be one that comes to mind recently. I have received several nice emails from her and a letter and I’ve yet to actually reply! I have things started. It’s terrible.

Letters are incredibly exciting to receive in the mail. Actually, anything addressed to one that is not junk or a bill is fun to get in the mail. My favorite things are letters or books. You really can’t go wrong. I think the only thing that might top it off is if someone could figure out how to send a cup of hot coffee in the mail. That would be something. You open your package and there is this perfect steaming cup of joe. Ah yes.

I go all out for letters a lot of the time. Pretty stamps, nice paper, written with a fountain pen. Or I try to do something unique. I just sent a friend of mine a short letter that I wrote on one half sheet of card stock, folded in thirds, and printed with the tiniest print I could manage. He was teasing me about my small script, which I thought was relatively normal. Apparently not. I like doodling on margins. I like trying new different methods of writing. I like scribbling notes in margins, though I try to avoid that. I get my notes better than other people.

I’ve even made my own envelopes by pricking them with a pin to achieve a punched out design. Wax seals, stickers, letters written on one sheet of paper then folded into an envelope. I’ve tried it all. I love having that bit of creativity on hand. And while I do like email thing, I still savor and take forever to reply.

So, if you have written me a letter and haven’t gotten a reply recently, even if I have promised a speedy reply, don’t take it personally. I’m still enjoying your letter. Savoring and digesting it slowly like a really good book. Oh, and I keep almost every letter I receive. I have boxes and email folders, and such.

Happy Friday. Good Friday.

Signing off

~Kate