14 Comments

Thank you for the memory! This reminded me of so many letters and notes I have also kept over the years, including the letters from my brother when he was in boot camp.

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I'm glad you liked it Suzanne! Letters and notes are some of the most precious items we can keep 😊

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This is a beautiful post, and nodded vigorously in agreement at much of what you say. I still write letters, cards, postcards, thank you letters and more. I have so many from my childhood, as did the generations before.

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Thank you so much for the kind words, David! It makes me so happy to hear that other people keep their handwritten letters too (and write them still!). Thanks so much for commenting 😊

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Agreed, you make a strong case for preserving this personal form of communication, as it captures history and cherished connections in a way digital messages do not. It is a shame I have lost most of mine along the way.

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I think so too, Tinashe! Letters are some of the most interesting documents to look back on, especially in an archival setting – as a PhD student it's endlessly fascinating to examine old documents like this. Thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts!

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This was beautifully written. I also love writing and receiving snail mail. There’s something special knowing someone has taken the time to stop and think about you, to share stories and snippets of life and things that interest you both. I had a pen pal who we’d always include a random fact at the end of each letter. My favourite letters though are the ones my great aunt and I have shared. She loves to research family history so she’s always including the most amazing stories and recent finds in her letters. 💌

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Thank you for being so kind, Tara! I completely agree, I think that writing and sending a letter is one of the kindest gestures you can make for somebody. I love that you share that tradition with your great aunt – how lovely! Thanks so much for reading and I'm glad you could relate 🌸

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My nephew writes letters back and forth with my granny. She’s given him her old writing kit from when she was a little girl almost 90 years ago. Absolutely the highlight of his week getting a letter from her!

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I love this, Jack! And what a treasure to inherit – I'm so glad to see that letter writing is being passed down to the kids of today 😊 thanks so much for commenting!

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I want to start a club at the school I work in to get the children writing to residents of local care homes as well. Something we should keep alive.

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This is a brilliant idea – I'm sure both the children and care home residents would gain so much from a club like that!

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What a beautifully authentic thing, the handwritten letter. Growing up in the 90s, I also had many pen pals from different countries all over the word. I'd wait weeks for their letters to arrive in the mail... something many children today have never experienced!

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I love this, Alexandra! I'm so grateful that I got to have even one pen pal from another country. Handwritten letters are somewhat of a lost art in our current world, hopefully one day we all collectively bring it back 😊 thanks so much for commenting!

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