Still, receiving a piece of mail is far more exciting than an email or an “@” mention in a tweet. Our many holiday cards on our mantle reminded me of this, and set me to thinking about why “analog” mail is such a joy to receive.
The handwritten, mailed note or letter (as I mentioned) really stands out amongst all of our other forms of personal communication. (For an amusing mash up of Twitter and mail, check this post out) Having something physical and permanent as opposed to something ephemeral lends weight to our words and the thoughts behind them. It also speaks to the care behind the item, as it requires us to do more than just push send. As Mr. Angell mentions, the connection that the physical communication brings can connect us with those we do not know, from a time before us.
For me, sending mail is almost as enjoyable as mail in our mailbox. Picking out cool stamps from the post office is really fun, and so long as you are not overseas or someone we are paying a bill to, you’ll get a cool stamp from us. We keep a variety of paper and notecards around, so picking the right one for the job is a heck of a lot of fun as well. There are, of course, some less serious ones (including postcards) and then more standard ones as well. And while the format is important, the content is paramount in a note.
Handwriting is far more personal than typing. Seeing a person’s handwriting gives us a more intimate connection with the writer, like our own, personal typeface. And, as much as I love type, nothing is more personal than a handwritten note. Our idiosyncrasies in handwriting, our mistakes as we write, and our more free-form thoughts come out onto the paper.
As a matter of fact, in this new year, I am planning on doing a great deal more of my personal communication via analog mail. If you’re interested, send me an email or a tweet, and we will exchange information!
I'm such a huge fan of handwritten mail as well. There is nothing like it to really show that you are thinking of someone. Its also one of the best surprises to receive personal mail beside the seemingly endless advertisements and offers.
ReplyDeleteI bought some Mark Twains, Edward Hoppers, and go green stamps earlier today. My supply was rather cut down by the holiday mailing. USPS is cutting back and will no longer be promising next-day delivery for first-class mail. It could be hard on Netflix and other purveyors via the mail. You know, I just can't wait for my movies!?
ReplyDeleteAll that said, I intended to send out a postcard or letter every day (or so) when I retired up to Alfred. I must admit I don't get that many cards sent out but I do love to receive them. Glad to know there are a few other postal troglodytes around.
Hi Sherman!
ReplyDeleteIt is good to know there are a few other analog mail fans out there - I'll put you in our list for postcards!
I love those Hopper and the go green stamps - I always save the ones in the middle of the green stamps that have the older and younger guys in one panel, and their dog in the other for larger items. Have you seen those cool modern design ones?
Emily!
ReplyDeleteYou are quite right - there is nothing like a handwritten card or letter to brighten one's day - and what an inexpensive surprise to send to others!
Yes, I've been using the modern design ones too. I was glad for the Hopper and Twain stamps because the vertical ones (Katharine Hepburn and Barbara Jordan, for example) don't fit with some window envelopes.
ReplyDeleteHello to all of you!
ReplyDeleteI used to write many letters, especially when I lived in the Pacific NW (Seattle area) and my family was mostly on the east coast. Since I have gotten into computers, it has gone by the wayside and I miss it soo much. My Mom and Dad wrote faithfully during the time I was out west (back then, they could not afford long phone calls but they could write a long letter and they did) and that meant so much. At "mail call" time, I always check first to see if there is any personal mail like letters, cards or postcards.
I have a niece that writes letters and does NOT do computers or phone calls at all. We have begun corresponding and it has awakened the desire to do more letter writing.
Since we are spending our winter this year in Kentucky with friends (though our home base is New York State and most of our friends and family are in there) before we left, I handed out self-addressed envelopes to friends to encourage them to write to me. It has been somewhat successful. And now I have letters to keep as long as I want. I can go back and hold it in my hand and read it over and over.
I also collect postcards, like my brother, and we have been exchanging them for years. He is more faithful at sending cards than I, but it is still there. And has kept us close over the years in a way that phone calls or e-mail can never do.
Maybe my New Year's Resolution should be writing more letters and cards. But I loath New Years resolutions, so maybe I will just get off my rear and write till the habit comes back.
I am with this 100% and it is good to know there are other fans of analog mail.
Does anyone feel the same about books?
For about two years now, I have sent a letter to my (now 7 year old) nephew each week. The letters differ in type and length, from postcards to three pages. While the initiative began while we lived in the same town, we now reside in different states. It is rare when I receive a letter in return yet, that is not why I began this endeavor. I send the letter each week because it is a constant, consistent reminder that, no matter we may live, my nephew will always be in my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteA letter is often more powerful than perhaps first intended and conveys deep and intimate meaning. I grew up writing letters, or notes, to my mother every day. We would exchange them for a variety of reasons - saying I love you or saying we need a gallon of milk. It did not always matter the contents but the effort and the consistency. A day without a letter hinted toward trouble indeed.
I recently went through many boxes and came across a letter from my mother. The letter was written during a tumultuous time and was almost painful to read. However, after I read it I immediately knew why I had kept it. It was a true indicator of the relationship I had with my mother - loving, close, flawed, and traumatic.
When I think of why I write a letter to my nephew each week, I remember the letter I found from my mother. A letter is often the most honest indicator of feeling and it is always from a place of action. In the case of a letter, action speaks just as loudly as the words on the page, the perfect complement indeed.