Friday, August 10, 2012

Report on the Letter-Writing Experiment

It's been lovely.  I have written approximately one letter a month since last fall to various friends far away.

I've gotten some letters back, which oh! made my heart beat fast in a way I had forgotten!  I realized that in having instant communication via the internet with practically anybody, I'd forgotten the thrill that comes to the patient letter writers.  Plus, there's such a broad palette for prettiness in the paper, the ink, the envelope, the stamp(s).  That is a thrilling exercise, to root around my supplies.


So I'm going to keep up the letter writing.  When I have a letter in mind that I want to write, I often write it on the bus ride to my job.  It's a 30-minute ride and I often get most of the letter finished.

7 comments:

beth said...

Good for you! My daughter does a lot of letter writing and enjoys it as well!

Anonymous said...

Hi Margo, I really enjoy your blog and check here often! I had to comment on letter writing because I love it so much (I am not an e-mailer at all). I also love the searching through supplies to choose which paper/envelopes etc. to use. I have quite a collection, much of it very vintage, found at thrift stores. I write to my Mom, and I am blessed to still have both Grandmas to write to (and receive letters from!), as well as a couple friends. Thanks for sharing here, I love to see the sewing posts!
Shauna

BLD in MT said...

I am glad it is going so well. I too have been sending letters and postcards. I set the goal of one per month, but have found that I send more than that, probably closer to one per week.

Have you looked into postcards? Like stationary it is fun to explore the broad range of options. I picked up some vintage Yellowstone Park postcards at a garage sale and have been sending them each time Matt and I have been to the park.

But, I have not gotten a letter back yet. But, I am not discouraged.

AmyK said...

Hi, I'm new to your blog, and thought I'd finally comment. Letter writing is a great thing. I don't write letters anymore, but you reminded me of how my husband and I wrote to each other wile dating - and this is when we did have e-mail - but we liked the realness of letters. We wrote letters throughout 5 years of dating and 1 of engagement. I have two huge boxes full of them. SO much better than e-mails!!

Sew Blessed Maw [Judy] said...

What a lovely thing to do.. It had been so long ,since I have written a letter.. I think, I will have to make myself a goal and write some letters..It would be fun to recieve. thankyou for sharing.

loves2spin said...

What a lovely post. :) I do write letters. They can be so encouraging. When I was younger, it was to servicemen that I knew overseas. More recently to a friend who was imprisoned for a time. These letters can mean So Much. I LOVE getting letters. I used to always write to my mom while she was alive and she wrote back. We had quite a correspondence. Email is great, but nothing as special as a real letter you can hold and keep and read over and over. I used to spend my spending money on stationary when I was a kid. :)

Polly said...

I LOVE THIS! I am such a lover of letters, but have really stopped writing them entirely, and I mourn the fact that the mail just contains bills and catalogs--so dry, so unexciting! Stationery is so fun....I love the prettiness of letters.

I am going to take my inspiration from you and do this as well. I'm going to wait a little while to commit, but commit I WILL!!