The Art of Letter Writing

I am an insane hoarder of letters.

I have every card and letter sent to me in the last fifty years.

Yes, you read correctly, fifty years.  Letters and cards neatly preserved in boxes.
Every once in a while I peruse them, with much enjoyment.

I could not wait to learn to write.  In my elementary school there was always a childhood illness
(Measles, mumps, chicken pox, etc.) making the rounds and the teacher would
not begin and/or continue our lessons in cursive until all were present.  This, seemingly,
went on forever.

I have always prided myself on having a neat hand writing but, alas, these days the arthritis
has definitely altered my style.

My great, great Aunt used to write notes to me and at the bottom of the note she would tape
two dimes, for an ice cream treat.  Friends who moved away would write to me and it was
always such fun and great anticipation to open and read the letters.

And then the internet was created and, along with it, email.

I must admit that, initially, emails were fun.  They were instantaneous and that, in itself, was amazing.  I confess, however, that to this day I treat an email as a letter, usually complete with
a salutation, etc.

As we all know, the downturn in postal mailings occured due to emails.  And then texts became
the  new form of communication, complete with its own symbols and abbreviations.

And then the public schools chose to discontinue teaching cursive.  (That makes me so sad).

There are now students who only know how to print.  I don't know how they sign a check but then those are becoming a thing of the past as well!  They do not know how to compose a
personal letter or a business letter.

And, they certainly do not know the joy of holding an envelope containing  words written by someone, perhaps from another city, state or country.

If you really want to brighten someone's day, sit down and jot a little note letting them know
you are thinking of them.  I guarantee you will be sending more than words!