Writing a letter is sometimes better
Life with Lindsey
Lindsey Pruitt
Issue date: 1/21/09 Section: Lifestyles
One of my very best friends, Guillory, left for basic training for the National Guard last week. A long and rigorous process awaits him filled with horrendous workout routines, sleeping in ditches and going on several mile marches with equipment on back. He will be mentally and physically challenged to fit the mold of a soldier for five months.
Worst of all, Guillory will be cut off from the convenient amenities of 21st century communication. Absolutely no Internet will be available and no cell phones. His phone calls will consist of about five minutes every few days on a pay phone.
Before he left, he warned me about all of this, told me communication would be hard, but that he would write me letters.
Letters, an interesting solution to the communication problem, and yet one that felt so strange to hear.
I got to thinking about all the letters I had received in my life and found that most of them were more like birthday cards and failed attempts at pen pals from random places like Germany. Struck by the classic and somewhat romantic idea of writing back and forth, I realized that the art of letter writing for pleasure is dying.
Even we journalists have thrown away the commitment to pretty penmanship and have resorted to digital voice recorders and lap tops. Bottom line: it saves time and it's easier.
When I miss my mom or my best friend in Conway, I want to talk to them that very minute so, of course, I pull out my cell phone and call them. My first reaction would never be to break out the old ink pen and stationery that sits in my drawer 98 percent of the year.
Thinking about Guillory cooped up in some concrete block writing me a letter seemed so historical, so outdated. Because I think of letter writing as a very tedious process, I had trouble imagining him thinking about what to write down and expressing himself on paper.
I can't say that I have written an enormous amount of letters in my lifetime, but when I do, I expect that person to really appreciate that I took the time to express my feelings for them in a letter. Sometimes, on holidays, I will write to my closest friends or relatives telling them how much they mean to me. I think letters are special in that way. They give a sort of physical proof of my dedication.
Worst of all, Guillory will be cut off from the convenient amenities of 21st century communication. Absolutely no Internet will be available and no cell phones. His phone calls will consist of about five minutes every few days on a pay phone.
Before he left, he warned me about all of this, told me communication would be hard, but that he would write me letters.
Letters, an interesting solution to the communication problem, and yet one that felt so strange to hear.
I got to thinking about all the letters I had received in my life and found that most of them were more like birthday cards and failed attempts at pen pals from random places like Germany. Struck by the classic and somewhat romantic idea of writing back and forth, I realized that the art of letter writing for pleasure is dying.
Even we journalists have thrown away the commitment to pretty penmanship and have resorted to digital voice recorders and lap tops. Bottom line: it saves time and it's easier.
When I miss my mom or my best friend in Conway, I want to talk to them that very minute so, of course, I pull out my cell phone and call them. My first reaction would never be to break out the old ink pen and stationery that sits in my drawer 98 percent of the year.
Thinking about Guillory cooped up in some concrete block writing me a letter seemed so historical, so outdated. Because I think of letter writing as a very tedious process, I had trouble imagining him thinking about what to write down and expressing himself on paper.
I can't say that I have written an enormous amount of letters in my lifetime, but when I do, I expect that person to really appreciate that I took the time to express my feelings for them in a letter. Sometimes, on holidays, I will write to my closest friends or relatives telling them how much they mean to me. I think letters are special in that way. They give a sort of physical proof of my dedication.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Wendy
posted 1/26/09 @ 10:29 PM CST
Keep on writing letters and don't get discouraged. We need to just keep on writing to keep the art alive! It's too important for our history and culture. (Continued…)
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