Letters 2 & 3

When you're so used to the quick and easy way of connecting through social media, it takes a bit to recall that things like a handwritten letter take their time to arrive at the chosen destination. Still, I assumed my first letter would take less than a week to get to Casey - my cousin, friend and sister. But, a week it took. Exactly.

Still, I was relieved to hear that she eventually got it and that my words made her day :)

During this past week, I wrote my letter to my other sister, as I mentioned I would but I have yet to post it. So, today I decided to write letter three as well, because - well, why not? Tomorrow my lovely hubby will post them for me.

I am finding it difficult to separate contacting people through letters and on FB or over the phone. I write something in a letter and then expect the recipient to answer any questions I may have asked the next time we get to chat, even though the letters have yet to even leave my possession.

Still, there is something therapeutic about contacting people this way. Writing things down, even if they are merely random pieces of my day or thoughts I have in the moment feels so much more tangible than typing a quick note and clicking the send button.  I may be able to say the same thing quicker online, but somehow this is better.

Letter #1

I decided to write my first letter for the handwriting challenge to someone who I have not seen in quite some time. It makes my heart heavy to know it has been so long, but due to distance and lack of money there has been no way for us to catch up in many, many months.

While, I never had a biological sister I was lucky enough to have two friends (one a cousin) who were close enough to be. Penning a letter to my beloved friend and sister felt awesome, liberating. It reminded me so much of all the times we spent writing to each other. If only we could have all the new awesomeness that came with growing up, while keeping all those times where you hang out with your girlfriends, watching movies and drinking LLB (Lemon, Lime and Bitters). How perfect would life be then?

I sent my three page letter on Wednesday and haven't heard that it's arrived yet, so I suppose it will get to her tomorrow, I really hope getting it will be as exciting for the recipient as sending it has been for me. I can't wait to hear that she has it.

I am so exhilarated me that I have already got a list of more than 6 people to write to, with more being added all the time. 

This week's letter will be to my other sister.

Find out more about this challenge here

Putting Pen to Paper

I once loved to write. I mean, write. With a pen and paper. Notes, diaries, thoughts, letters. At school my friends and I would slip each other letters in the hallway and my best friend at the time and I had a 'letter book'. I had pen pals from my old school. Finding a letter waiting at home for me used to be so thrilling and on bad days I could delve into my 'letter box' to find loving, friendly words from people I felt really knew and liked me that would fill me with warmth.

While I came late to the whole email thing, somehow, writing letters fell by the way-side. Once I had a mobile and was able to chat online it seemed there were so many great options for keeping in touch that I didn't need to even think about getting my stationary back out. But, all of these fantastic, technical age ways to stay and keep in touch haven't meant I have done so. Sure, Facebook has given me a chance to reconnect with so many people, but at the same time there's not that feeling of kinship, of closeness.

I intend to email, but I don't love to, so I don't. I think about writing letters, to the extent where I added Keep in better contact with family with letters and phone calls as one of my 101 in 1001 but as soon as I get out a pen the girls want to use it or my mind goes blank and that's the times I remember to be bothered to try...

Then recently, I happened upon a lovely blog called babbleOn where the author, Claire, set herself (and anyone who wanted to join in) a 6 weeks challenge to write a handwritten letter and posting (that's an important part) it to someone special. Read all about the challenge here.

Claire's words have given me the motivation and excitement to stop thinking about maybe, possibly writing to the people who I love, miss and want to connect with and do it. Throughout this week, I will write and post my letter and on Sunday I will write a follow up post and so it will go for 6 weeks. 6 handwritten letters to 6 lovely people.