Growing up without computers or cell phones, all we did was write letters to one another. Words carried so much weight then. They were chosen carefully. You waited on them to arrive. Somewhere in that waiting, I became a writer. Writing became a place where I could speak slowly in the most earnest way, letting my thoughts settle.
I am also an English teacher, formerly.
I recently returned from Europe after a brief escape with my middle son. Our days there felt luminous. France inspires me the way that writing does. It asks me to pay attention and to listen beneath the surface. Returning to the States, the contrast was stark. There is so much heaviness here now, even more than before.
I want nothing more than to immerse myself in my writing, for both refuge and to chronicle the days we are living in before they harden into history. I wish there were more people who were interested in pen pal exchange and slow conversation of ink and paper, moving back and forth through time.
I had a pen pal in junior high from Japan. I loved it. I wrote so many letters in my childhood and as a young adult. Most phone calls were long distance. Letters and Thank-you notes, birthday cards were a must .
I had a pen pal in Japan when I was young. Right now I am sending ATCs with artist Sandy Allnock and friends and enjoying sending and receiving them. My church had us pick stars with one word to use this year and mine was WONDER.
I LOVE the idea of snail mail! Letter or cards in the mail are slowly becoming extinct, a thing of the past! ;( Pen pals!! SO fun!!! Love the MYOM!! Just signed up! Whimsy and wonder....YES please!! I just find myself resonating with so much that you share and write! I am always inspired after I read your posts! I appreciate you and your heart and ALL that you share in the world! XO Happy New Year! super warm hugs!!
I love the pen pal option. I had 1 in grade school, who lived in New Zealand and 1 a couple yrs ago, a tiny fairy of a little girl neighbor who moved away... count me in.
Not all the prompts speak to me, BUT good for my old brain to try new things!! Keep up the great WONDER!!
Funny you bring this up! A half century and more ago I had a couple pen-pals who lived across the ocean. I loved it!
We'd swapped letters every three or four weeks sharing basic news and thoughts and ideas of a young adult.
Here on Substack there are a couple people that I've nurtured an email pen-pal relationship with. One across the country, one across many oceans, one across the northern border. It's an absolute blast!!
Growing up without computers or cell phones, all we did was write letters to one another. Words carried so much weight then. They were chosen carefully. You waited on them to arrive. Somewhere in that waiting, I became a writer. Writing became a place where I could speak slowly in the most earnest way, letting my thoughts settle.
I am also an English teacher, formerly.
I recently returned from Europe after a brief escape with my middle son. Our days there felt luminous. France inspires me the way that writing does. It asks me to pay attention and to listen beneath the surface. Returning to the States, the contrast was stark. There is so much heaviness here now, even more than before.
I want nothing more than to immerse myself in my writing, for both refuge and to chronicle the days we are living in before they harden into history. I wish there were more people who were interested in pen pal exchange and slow conversation of ink and paper, moving back and forth through time.
I had a pen pal in junior high from Japan. I loved it. I wrote so many letters in my childhood and as a young adult. Most phone calls were long distance. Letters and Thank-you notes, birthday cards were a must .
Love the Pen Pal idea. I’m actually doing that with several people. It’s more personal and fun 🤩
I had a pen pal in Japan when I was young. Right now I am sending ATCs with artist Sandy Allnock and friends and enjoying sending and receiving them. My church had us pick stars with one word to use this year and mine was WONDER.
I LOVE the idea of snail mail! Letter or cards in the mail are slowly becoming extinct, a thing of the past! ;( Pen pals!! SO fun!!! Love the MYOM!! Just signed up! Whimsy and wonder....YES please!! I just find myself resonating with so much that you share and write! I am always inspired after I read your posts! I appreciate you and your heart and ALL that you share in the world! XO Happy New Year! super warm hugs!!
I love the pen pal option. I had 1 in grade school, who lived in New Zealand and 1 a couple yrs ago, a tiny fairy of a little girl neighbor who moved away... count me in.
Not all the prompts speak to me, BUT good for my old brain to try new things!! Keep up the great WONDER!!
Funny you bring this up! A half century and more ago I had a couple pen-pals who lived across the ocean. I loved it!
We'd swapped letters every three or four weeks sharing basic news and thoughts and ideas of a young adult.
Here on Substack there are a couple people that I've nurtured an email pen-pal relationship with. One across the country, one across many oceans, one across the northern border. It's an absolute blast!!
I highly recommend it!!
Just FYI.