In an age of instant communication, we have forgotten the importance of actually writing letters and sending greeting cards. My friend Cindy in South Dakota is in her late 70’s. She and I exchange letters regularly, although she has an iPhone. Another friend who is younger than I, sends a greeting card each week and I reciprocate. These cards include brief, handwritten notes. I look forward to going to the mailbox late in every week.
Unfortunately, letter writing is becoming a lost art. Digital communication is quicker and more convenient. Skype and FaceTime allow us to see the people we love and hear their voices. Those are wonderful technological advances, but there is something about “snail mail” that is endearing and heartwarming. My fifteen-year-old calls it “vintage communication,” but she smiles big when she receives a letter from “Grandma Cindy” that details her adventures and misadventures in the South Dakota snow. There is something about handwritten letters. Here are a few observations I have made:
Side note—one of the best cards I ever received was from a fourth- grade student for Teacher Appreciation Week more than a decade ago. It was a sympathy card. Yes! The note inside was precious. “Mrs. Courington, I love you. This is a sad card, but it’s the only one I had at my house. I drew happy faces for you.” Handwritten words matter, so do hand-drawn happy faces.
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Shannon CouringtonWeekly columnist. Feature Writer. Archives
September 2019
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