Feature

On: Letter Writing, a Dying Art Form

Saturday Mar 1, 2008 – By Tremaine L. Loadholt

Remember those love letters you used to get in grade school? You know the letters of which I speak; “I like you, do you like me? Check (or circle) yes or no.” If your love letters were anything like mine, most times there would be a little stick couple drawn at the bottom holding hands, smiling, with a heart sketched big enough to place over each stick figure’s head. Aha, yes those letters! Recall the feeling that passed through your pre-pubescent body upon reading them? For me, it can be described as the feeling of confidence coupled with a hint of flattery. I must admit that these were some of the best approaches in written form I have gotten, and I was not interested in half of the boys in my class at all. Recently, my mother called me while she was rummaging through a box of keepsakes (mostly letters I sent to her, letters I received, old report cards, and etc) and decided it best to share with me a few of the letters. As she began to read a letter I wrote her while I was visiting family in New York, she sounded as if she was going to cry. In between pauses and several “are you listening to mes?” I could hear her voice change in octaves yet become lathered in excitement.

It could be described as if she were receiving this letter for the first time. “Okay Maine, at the top you have the date, July 5, 1989 then you have the time, and you start off with, “Hey Mama, I miss you…” Now, it would be false to say that I remember this letter, because I do not. It was far too long ago, but I do recall writing my mother while I was away and the fact that she wanted to share that moment in which she was reliving with me, made me smile. We moved on from that letter to a love letter written to me by a sweet, “little boy.” My mother read each sentence and I sat with my head leaning to the right, phone pressed firmly to my ear, engulfed in the reading as an advanced pupil in class. She began reading the lyrics to New Kids on the Block’s “Please Don’t Go Girl,” and I reminisced joyfully because this was my favorite song during that time. The writer was begging me not to break his heart (ala biting some lyrics) and asking for another chance. I shook my head in disbelief as my mother continued and I thought, *what in the world happened for him to write this?* She finished reading the letter and said to me, “Maine, now who wrote this to you? Was it that sweet little boy who sat with you on the porch swing after school and always asked if he could hold your hand?” I could only reply, “Yes Mom, yes it was.”

I do not remember a time in my life in which I was not writing. Anything that involved writing, I was definitely prepared to showcase what little skills I had. To this day, I send letters to a few of my friends and family. I purchase stationery, pens, notepads, and colorful envelopes to carry on this tradition. There is a humbling quality to writing, something so indescribable. You’d really have to share the same love for words as I do and enjoy using them, sharing them, and learning them to truly understand. We live in an age where text messages equal quick hellos, emails are ways to “catch-up,” and instant messenger services allow us to carry on full e-conversations. We have forgotten the art that is letter writing. We have pushed it to the back burner, placed it on simmer, and walked away from it never to return.

I have three friends who write me regularly in response to the letters I have written them. Each time I open my mailbox and see a letter from one of the three, the same feeling of delight emerges. I am shown that my mailbox can house documents other than bills, junk mail, and penny savers (after all, who likes getting any of these?). I am reminded that simplicity still exists and although dying, letter writing is not yet dead. Write someone you love, trust me, you will brighten up their day.

Jackie says:

March 1, 2008 at 8:22 am

Amen and Amen! About a month ago I received my first letter in the mail since maybe I was in elementary or middle school with a pen pal in a foreign country. It was the best feeling in the world. And to know that by writing this person back they got to feel the same way, it was just so cool. I guess the biggest rush of the correspondence is that ultimately no one quite knows when these packages will arrive, so when it gets to its destination both parties are surprised. Beyond that, it’s a glimpse into a moment in someone’s life. Hell, things could have changed twenty minutes after they licked that envelope shut, but in that moment they were either happy or sad, full of amazing news, pondering life’s mysteries and they shared those thoughts with you. There’s a vulnerability to letter writing that doesn’t exist with emails. One doesn’t feel compelled to remove a thought once it’s on paper. It’s too much of a hassle and so sometimes there’s a certain level of intimacy in them that cannot even be found in conversation.

↑ Reply

ndlv13 says:

March 1, 2008 at 12:38 pm

Its good to see others who believe in the intimate communication. I’m 30 and have been sending simple cards and letters to my friends for years. Whether its to congratulate them on a important moment in their life or to comfort them in sorrow. I have a stack of cards on my desk that are simple, just cause i love you or you’re a great friend because times are tough and a little sign of affection from someone unexpectedly is just has great as giving free hugs. I encourage people to still write to each other or send little tidbits just for whom ever it is…this mass text nation has lead us to believe that texting is the new form of admiration. I think not!!! A person who sits down and take 10-15 minutes or more out of their day to write you a personal sonnet or such have your home address and buy a $.40 stamp says a whole lot of both the giver and receiver.

onefellswoop says:

March 1, 2008 at 12:40 pm

i loved this! especially this…” I am shown that my mailbox can house documents other than bills, junk mail, and penny savers (after all, who likes getting any of these?). I am reminded that simplicity still exists and although dying, letter writing is not yet dead. Write someone you love, trust me, you will brighten up their day.”

This inspires me to correspond to some folks I haven’t seen in a while, thank you.

tremaine says:

March 1, 2008 at 1:48 pm

ndlv13, i can definitely relate to this and tell you i’ve got some cards on my desk as well as post cards w/ little blurbs about and pictures of famous african-american writers too:

“I have a stack of cards on my desk that are simple, just cause i love you or you’re a great friend because times are tough and a little sign of affection from someone unexpectedly is just has great as giving free hugs.”

sending a little note goes a long way.

onefellswoop: i am glad these words have tickled something alive inside of you. i’m sure whomever you choose to write will be so happy just to see your name in the Sender’s section of the envelope :) thanks you guys.

The BORO says:

March 1, 2008 at 10:36 pm

HELLO TRE,
WE REALLY MISS YOU AT FHCC. READING YOUR ARTICLE BOUGHT BACK SOOOOOOOOOOOO MANY MEMORIES OF LETTER WRITTING. I DON’T KNOW THE LAST TIME I WROTE A LETTER TO ANYONE.
I GUESS BECAUSE IT’S SO EASY TO E-MAIL. BUT I JUST MIGHT START BACK WRITTING LETTERS WHEN I FIND SOMETIME. THIS WAS ANOTHER GREAT ARTICLE.
TAKE CARE!!!!!!!!!!!

March 2, 2008 at 12:40 pm

hey there you :) I miss you guys as well. Thanks so much for stopping by. I will need to send the office a little card. You guys were on my mind last week, hard. I’ll be home for St. Patty’s Day weekend, hopefully I’ll be able to take a trip up there on Friday afternoon and see you guys before the office closes. I’ll bring the boys, they’ll like that. Take care too.

Carly says:

March 4, 2008 at 8:54 am

I was recently given the gift of a typewriter from a retro/vintage store and decided to write a letter to a friend I hadn’t seen for a while. There was such a rich, almost unexplainable, feeling of warmth and nostalgia to be had from the heavy clunking sound of the machine and ink that stained your fingers for days, knowing that the act of commiting thoughts to paper and sending them through the mail will bring a much fuller sense of connection between my friend and I than email ever could.

It prompted him to acquire a typewriter, too; the art of letter writing alive for a little while longer.

addie says:

March 4, 2008 at 1:36 pm

I now know how I will spend the “quiet time” of my upcoming weekend… sharing, stamping and sending. Thanks for the reminder of the greatness of letter writing!

March 4, 2008 at 4:26 pm

Carly and Addie, thanks so much for stopping by. It makes me feel good to read that some people still believe in taking a little time to write a letter every once in a while. :)

kimabe says:

March 5, 2008 at 2:54 pm

I really need to get back into writing letters. Or maybe what I need to do is get to the post office more often to ail the ones i’ve written(smiling)!
—kimabe

Heather says:

March 6, 2008 at 12:26 pm

Tre’ :

Thanks for bringing back the wondeful memories of the letter writing experience. It is true how we are quick to drop an email or send a text; but you have definitely inspired me to go out and buy some stationary and write a letter instead. I am sure that my friends will much rather get a nice card or letter in the mail than a bill or some junk mail!!!! Thanks Tre’ for another wonderful article!!!!!!!!!

March 6, 2008 at 4:05 pm

Kimabe & Heather, thanks for stopping by you guys. :) Yeah, I think I’ll write a few letters next week. I think I send more than I receive sometimes, but I still love getting the letters that I do receive. There’s just something about opening something addressed to me in which the other person isn’t asking for money or trying to sell something. LOL. Happy Letter Everyone!

Cola says:

March 6, 2008 at 9:05 pm

Tremaine great article. There is nothing like opening an old letter and re-reading. You just can’t get the same feeling from an email!

Angel says:

March 7, 2008 at 1:51 pm

Tremaine! Tremaine! Tremaine! I always thought of writting letters to people. I just though that it would be juvenille. But I guess that there is a common ground with all of us and you. We either read or write rather we want to or not. I even enjoy using a physical dictionary. thanks MaeMae I think I might send my mother a letter very soon. The last letter she recieved from me was when I was in basic training about eight years ago.

Anaylli says:

March 10, 2008 at 12:05 pm

This was a great post! I’d take a nice handwritten not over a hastily written email anyday, but for the sake of convenience I know that’s not always possible. I still communicate with my family that lives outside of the States through letters…it’s so lovely when you receive a response by mail! I hope people get back into letter writing, it’s really a beautiful thing.

March 10, 2008 at 12:18 pm

Cola, Angel, and Anaylli, thank you guys for reading :)

Anaylli, nothing beats a letter from a family member or close friend. I get super excited when this happens. It’s such a wondrous way to keep the lines of communication open, I definitely agree with that whole-heartedly.

The Maven says:

March 10, 2008 at 8:01 pm

Lovely sentiment, indeed. I have a similar box in my mom’s attic. It is a great feeling when you receive a letter in the mail. I can remember being away at school in Iowa and receiving letters from my family and my friends at HU, Illinois, Hampton, etc. It never failed to brighten my day. Never. My mom sends cards often, and I keep each and every one. The written word or signature from a loved one is an invaluable keepsake.

Susan Boyd says:

April 18, 2008 at 1:53 pm

Hey Eggy Rolly:

As always, your article is the bomb!!!! It definitely brought back memories. It makes me want to go home and search for all the old letters I use to write and receive. Those were the days when technology did not consume our daily lives. The days when we did not “HAVE” to have our cell phones or email. I wish you could just quit your job and write all day for a living! *SMILE*

Talk to you soon! The twins miss their Auntie!!!!

Susan

April 28, 2008 at 8:10 pm

The Maven: I don’t even want to divulge how many letters I sincerely need to go through, re-read, then discard. I am a major hoarder of these types of things. Thank you for reading.

Susan: You’re very right. Technology has transformed us; we don’t seem to recognize just how beautiful the simplest things are. LOL, stop calling me by my nicknames and such all on the world.wide.web. Thanks for reading lady.