It was just like every other Thursday. I picked my daughter up from school at 3:00 and we were fighting traffic to get home and make snacks. But this particular Thursday she could barely contain herself. “Can’t you drive any faster mom” she said. What’s the rush!
She was in a hurry to hit the mailbox to see if she’d received a letter from her summer camp friend. The girl had texted her that she sent the letter two days prior. It certainly gave me pause. In this day and age of email, texting, instant messaging, facebook and twitter, where life moves at the speed of light, what excited my daughter more than anything else was an old school hand written letter. Granted this correspondence profited from a handful of squigglies and swirls all around the edges of its content which cannot be duplicated on a computer, but it was more the anticipation of opening the mailbox and finding the treasure that begot the excitement.
Thankfully it had arrived.
She rushed upstairs to her room, closed her door and relished every word of this hand crafted offering. Not even a yummy snack could deter her from her reading. Curious, I asked her what it was about that letter that was so exciting. Was it the contents? Was there a secret to be shared? Nope. She had heard the whole story on the phone already. But it was the idea of receiving the letter that was so delicious. The story in black and white. Every detail of every experience carefully recounted in glorious worded detail for posterity. “It’s just not the same Mom”, she explained “plus the decorations on the edge of the paper are cool”. It was written, memorialized and decorated, a forever keepsake from a friend who cared enough to take the time to do it. My daughter could reread every thought and respond carefully and thoughtfully. And she did. Not taking a break she wrote a return letter in kind, equally as decorative and popped it back in the mailbox.
I know this very high profile PR executive in Hollywood. He is a very busy man but also an accomplished amateur photographer. For years he would take pictures, mount them on handmade paper and send them to friends and clients as personalized notes. In our constantly evolving high speed digital world it is a beautiful way to reach out and connect. It makes a powerful statement.To put pen to paper, to write ones thoughts, to seal the envelope, to lick the stamp and to place the note in the mailbox. Every detail of a handwritten letter takes time. Time is our most precious gift to share with someone else. It is irreplaceable and priceless. Send a greeting card, write a letter, or just jot a simple three word thought on a note. See what kind of response you get, how happy you will make someone. Very special and precious. Old School new again.
Your Grass is Green
