Lost art of letter writing

When I first began this journey I mentioned letter writing. No one writes letters any longer. Sure, everyone tweets, facebooks, emails and blogs, but does anyone actually write letters? There is a big joke about how many things I save. I am quite sentimental and tend to save things. Scott jokes that he'll be that old husband on "Hoarders: Buried Alive" saying he doesn't know how it got this bad! Okay, I am not that bad, clutter bothers me, but saving little things like letters and cards is not a bad thing.

During this last move with all the construction, I was not able to unpack the way I generally do, which is hurriedly to make the house into a usable home. The packers did a terrible job and with the waiting to move into our bedrooms, I had the time and NEED to go through each box, organize and carefully analyze our belongings. This brings me to the lost art of letter writing. Upon my box inspections I found a box full of letters. In this box I found letters from my time in Australia. Letters of "please don't go, I will miss you so much you have become my best friend" "You are the coolest American I have met, please don't go". These two folks I am still friends with today. A letter from my grandmother, whom I miss dearly. Stacks of letters and cards from Scott at various times of dating, wartime, anniversaries, birthdays you name it. Cards from my children. Letters from my sisters once I got married and moved away. I found a letter from my dad from 1985 when he was on a remote deployment to Korea. At 12, I don't think the letter probably meant as much to me as it does now, may be it did I don't remember, but the other day reading it again after all these years I can see the love he was sending, the do you remember I am your dad? I remember writing him, but as a child I don't know if the letters go to him or not. I have letters some where in another box, that I haven't found yet but remember receiving from my dad from Gulf War 1 when he was there. Letters hold memories some good some bad. Letters act as history lessons for future generations, a clip from the past.

John and Abigail Adams wrote letters to one another because they could not text, not facebook, not email each other. I recommend reading some of their writings. He was off on diplomatic "TDYs" and would ask her advice, for her help with things he was working on. Their letters are great writings for history, for love and just great reading. Ronald and Nancy Reagan are another couple that wrote to one another often. Mr. Reagan wrote of his love for her, his need for her and how wonderful she was. Each couple have a book published of their letters.

I wish I had the letters my grandmother showed me from her brothers from WWII. As a military wife letters home always hold a special place in my heart. My other grandmother told me of the letters from my grandfather in the Navy from WWII. I would love to put those all in my box of letters. Scott's grandmother told me it took weeks sometimes to get a letter home. She would wait and wait for a letter from Scott's grandfather. In our world of instant text, I remember waiting a week for a letter from Scott in the Middle East seemed like an eternity. My dear friend has hat boxes FULL of notes and letters from her husband. What testament to her boys and daughter of the love and commitment he has to her.

My friends, write a letter on paper for someone to treasure. Write your children, your mother, your spouse, your next door neighbor, your friend in Alaska. I know in 60 years this blog maybe floating in cyberspace somewhere, but there is something to be said about opening a letter and seeing the hand writing or the typed word printed on card stock or paper. A piece of you will be passed along and cherished for future generations to read.

With love my friends,
Angela