Letters, We Get Letters

The emotional appeal of a handwritten letter cannot be replaced.

The Edinburgh and London Royal Mail by John Frederick Herring, Sr., 1838 (public domain - Wikimedia Commons)

“Let me hear from thee by letters.” — William Shakespeare, c. 1590

One small thing that brings me a great deal of joy is receiving a letter in the mail. And I’d wager that I’m not alone in that.

Amid all of the junk mail, bills, and remnants of our paper-bound society, it’s remarkable how an envelope, some ink, and a specialty sticker can affect us so deeply.

Do you remember ever having a pen pal? It’s a dated concept now, but as a child of a certain era, I recall having a regular correspondence with some faceless kid from another state, wondering when his half of our exchange would arrive and what he’d share of his life with me.

I also remember receiving letters from my grandparents, great-grandparents, and when I was away, my own parents.

Unlike phone calls, which were filled with distractions on both ends of the line, a letter was a concentrated bit of love and attention — a po…