It was from a friend.
Written on paper.
Front and back.
Mailed the old fashioned 'snail mail' all the way from California.
Such incidents have become so rare in this day and age that some may think our friend is one of those 'living off the grid' weirdos...
Let me assure you, she is not.
She is extremely technologically savvy lady.
Connected to the Internet.
She even has a cell phone.
But, instead of emailing...
Instead of texting...
Or even calling..
- which would be...
faster...
cheaper...
more efficient...
more convenient... -
She took the time...
put forth the effort...
chose to say 'no' to all these obvious, logical choices
and 'yes' to something else...
I can not begin to describe how this sheet of 8.5X11 plain bond paper made me feel. Dancing on the inside is the best I can come up with.
I immediately stopped whatever I was doing, and started reading... really more like savoring...
Her name, address, the day of the week and the date - month, day, year... September 20, 2020 - in the top right corner.
Our name and address on the left, a bit below.
Does anyone remember that this is how the letters used to be formatted?
And then,
Dear...
I don't remember when was the last time I received a letter like this... I realize that some people have NEVER received a letter like that... personal, from a long-time friend, thoughtful.... that makes you feel vulnerable, treasured, connected beyond the marvels of modern technology that so loudly brags about 'connection'...
I used to get A LOT of letters like that in the past... I used to both receive AND write...
But something happened and that delicious exchange was suddenly interrupted, and eventually stopped altogether on both sides...
This morning, however, it hit me that with all the awesome high-tech advances, I feel kind of impoverished,..
perhaps even a little cheated...
as if I was duped by all these
helpful
convenient
efficient ways we do life these days...
and the trade-off doesn't seem worth it....
