Letter Writing

     I had something really fabulous happen to me yesterday! Before I tell you about it though, let me tell you how important I think 'heart communication' is. I'm talking about taking the time to keep in touch, to catch up, and to giggle...in person, on the computer, IN WRITING.

   I know, I know! It's the fast communication age now, and most people these days would say: "Why do you need "Snail Mail" at all when you have Facebook, Twitter, etc..?" First, let me say, I DO NOT like the expression "Snail Mail"! I think it's disrespectful to my beloved 'words'. Sometimes the waiting time for a letter to come in the mail, a letter you know is coming because you trade letters back and forth all the time, is precious!! "Snail Mail" indeed!!...HUH!...But maybe that's just me!

    Look at this envelope (in the header photo) with all of those colorful butterflies. The paper is smooth, but crisp. It has a smell like a new cut tree branch, and the colors jump off of the paper and make the sides of your smile go up!! :-) There is no equivalent  to the feel of stationary and envelopes!! Especially if the envelope is bulky and it has a destination with your name and address on the front!

    I love sending and receiving letters! This particular envelope is one I've sent many times. The front of the envelope is plain...

    It needs to be that way for the mailman. He doesn't need a lot of clutter when he's just trying to figure out where to take the letter. I mean, it's not going to HIS house! But it makes my heart feel good to know my loved one is going to turn the envelope over to open it, and all of my heartfelt words are going to be preceded by colorful butterflies! Even when they lift the flap!!

    I used to have a bunch of matching stationary with butterflies in the corners too, but, with as much as I talk, the stationary has been long since gone!! LOL And unfortunately I can't find anymore just like it anywhere...and believe me I've tried!! As a matter of fact, a good day for me used to be when I put on my flat shoes, went to the Hallmark store, and just went up and down the aisles looking at, and smelling, cards and stationary. Do any of you ever do that? I would always end up spending waaaaay more money than I intended, but I'd be writing my heart out for months!!!

   This is some of the stationary I have left now...

    Of course my picture-taking is not doing it any justice. It has a kind of 'Old World' texture, and it has swirls and grape leaves in each corner.

     I guess it's about time to make a 'Hallmark Run'! ^_^

After I write my letters, depending on what kind of letter it is, and where it's going, I also like to put stickers with flowers all over on them........................Who you calling dorky?!! LOL

    I'm just kind of partial to those cheery little flowers!! ^_^ ...I even like to see them on 'Thank You' cards that I send!

    Okay, so I know I'm a little antiquated and old-fashioned about some things, like letter writing instead of always using quick communication, but if you're being honest wouldn't you rather get a hand-written, pretty smelling letter, that you can read over and over again, in your "Snail Mail" rather that an abbreviated text on somebody's Blackberry'?!!! Come on!!! There's no comparison!

    Now, as to the fabulous thing that happened to me yesterday, and showing that quick communication DOES have it's place, I got a request for 'friending' over on Facebook by someone wondering if she was my cousin. Well, guess what? SHE IS!!! She even had a picture of me and 2 of my sisters that I had never seen before! Yikes! Were we ever homely looking kids!...Ha! Ha!...Oh! The matted afros, and braids I tried to cover up with some sort of fishing cap!! ^_^

    I chatted back and forth with her yesterday and look very much forward to continued communication, 'Heart Communication', with her. The only sad thing for me is that because a lot of my childhood was so bad (and she KNOWS all about it!) I've totally forgotten a lot of things about it. I have gaps in my memory that I hope will one day fill up. Gaps that don't let me remember her face when we were kids, or our playing together, and time spent at her family's house...our rescue haven at times. Maybe the more I talk to her, the more I'll remember. I'll keep you up to date as things progress, and I'll fill you in on some of what happened then, at another time.

    For now, it's poetry time. I wrote this poem the other day, when I was writing letters.

What Should A Written Letter Be?

Should it be a simple "Hi!"?

A casual "I was thinking of you!"?

A 'Catching Up' on times now past?

A calendar of the things you'll do?

A sad reflection of how they're missed?

A needed word when someone's died?

To say you wished you could be there?

To say you really, really tried?

Solicitations for your business?

Requests for info? A note of thanks?

Impersonal salutations from

Insurance companies and banks?

Heartfelt apologies?

Explanations of what you did?

A place to 'let off a little steam'?

To, without loudness, 'Blow your Lid'?

Well, whatever reason for them,

they put a smile upon your face,

that no Facebook, Tweet, or typing

ever, ever, will replace!

I hope they never go out of style,

and keep the mailman's job secure;

because the smell of a written letter,

like hugs and kisses, should endure.