Letters of Communication

 

When my family moved to Alaska long distance phone calls were unreliable and expensive. Flights to and from the states, the lower 48, the outside, were also expensive (or so they seemed at the time) and slimmer in their selections. Direct flights to faraway places, which is anywhere outside of Alaska, were not an option back in the day. Flights were always multi-leg itineraries that took a full day or more to get to the lower 48. So how did we keep in touch with our friends and family we left behind? We wrote letters.

Letters of substance and good form let the reader know all about the current events from the writer’s perspective. Good letters ask the reader questions, they show an interest in the receiver’s daily life. Letters written in reply answer questions, validate the sender’s accomplishments as well as their worries. Letters are long distance conversation, they help keep you in touch, they help foster a bond and sense of belong.

Over the years and with the advent of smarty-pants phones, texting and messaging platforms, our letters have become condensed, almost to the point of being bastardized. Text messages are most times choppy and sent in rapid succession which does not give the reader much chance to digest what is being said. Let alone validate what the other person just typed or how they might be feeling. Perhaps we might need a break from texting or messaging.

These days I do not write many full-length letters to friends or family members, postcards are my communication method of choice especially if a postcard is sent or received from a recent holiday. Receiving postcards in my mail boxes brings me immense joy and are always a welcome sight.

Time to check my stash of postcards and stamps and spend some precious time reaching out to my friends and family.

Have a great weekend everyone!

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