Linda’s prompt for SoCS this week…
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “letter.” Use it in your post or theme your post on any meaning of the word “letter.” Enjoy!
I love receiving letters in the mail.
Not the constant bills and junk mail that see their way into our post, but real, proper letters.
When I was a young girl, there was no such thing as email, and even when it was first widely available, it wasn’t immediate, because most of us had dial-up connections, and I think if you are in my age bracket, you will be able to remember the pain of hearing that screeching as the internet connected, and if you were lucky, you could access that haloed mail!
After that, you got mobiles with text messages, and the likes of WhatsApp etc. joined the ranks of communication. Straight away messages and calls. Heck, you could even video call, and see someone halfway around the world!
Of course, I use all these methods of keeping in touch with a lot of my family and friends now, but I sure miss the joy of opening an envelope to read a hand-written letter and the art of crafting a letter to send to a loved one.
My family were all over the world, so I used to (or my parents did, anyway!) stock up on airmail letters, so I could write to my cousins. I would tell them all my news and ask the relevant questions, then go to the post office to pay for my stamps.
I knew it could take a week or more for the letter to reach its destination, and then there would be a delay of a few weeks for a reply to come.
But the excitement of getting that letter, in your name!
Then there were the ones to my Hubby Dearest when he was still my fiance! Pages and pages of soppy romantic “I miss you and I love you’s”… I would know when the reply was due, because he’d have told me on the phone that he was sending a letter. I would wait by the letterbox. The mail was more regular in it’s delivery time then. I knew exactly when the postman would be visiting.
Then I’d hide my precious mail, and read it in my room, all alone, feeling all gooey inside, before rushing off to pen a reply!
Oh yes, those feelings of a real letter!
I think today’s generation really miss out by just having this messaging available to them. They don’t learn the art of patience, or gratitude either. They don’t have as many reasons to keep their handwriting skills tip top, or even the knowledge of how to write a letter.
And they miss out on the joy of receiving a letter in the post.
I didn’t want my kids to miss out, so they have, on occasion, written to their grandparents, and their uncle in Finland, and been really thrilled to receive the responses. It was funny watching them wait, expecting a reply that same day, or the next… sorry dears, even in this day and age unless we paid for courier delivery, that wasn’t likely!
And recently Lil Princess has had the pleasure of a pen pal as her best friend moved away from the area, so she was so happy to get a letter from her! They write, intermittently, to each other, and I’m so glad she’s keeping letter writing alive for another generation!
What about you? Do you miss receiving letters, or do you still write them?
Happy Saturday Peeps!
https://lindaghill.com/2018/05/04/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-5-18/
manyofus1980
Jun 11, 2018 @ 08:27:27
I remember the joy of having a penpal! How I loved reading her letters! Made my week also when I was a kid and in bording school and my gramma would write me a letter with all the family news in it!
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Ritu
Jun 11, 2018 @ 17:18:05
Letters are wonderful!!!
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Jennie
May 06, 2018 @ 19:15:54
Wonderful post, Ritu! A great reminder of the importance of letters. My classroom writes big thank you notes to guests and others. Getting a reply (like from the Queen) makes letter writing even more meaningful.
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Ritu
May 06, 2018 @ 19:23:47
I think it is so important!!!
Your Queen letter was amazing!
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Jennie
May 06, 2018 @ 22:07:47
Yes, it is!! Thanks, Ritu!
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puppy1952
May 06, 2018 @ 13:36:06
I am from the letter writing generation – My best friend’s dad moved his family to another city when we were eleven and we kept the friendship going by exchanging letters until we were adults. We are still best friends although we live in different countries. Receiving letters was exciting but I also get a thrill from receiving emails. And being able to video call a loved one on another continent is pure magic.
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Ritu
May 06, 2018 @ 17:06:17
There is magic in those new forms of communication, I know! I video call my brother and his family as they live in Finland, and at least I get to see my nephew, but still, the joy of receiving a letter!! Priceless!
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puppy1952
May 06, 2018 @ 17:09:32
Yes indeed😊
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joey
May 05, 2018 @ 21:14:48
I DO miss getting letters. Of course, that’s because I hardly ever send any now. I owe my mother a handful, too. I will add that to my “pleasures of a Sunday afternoon” agenda — thanks!
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 21:20:45
😊 I may just write to myself…
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Ruth Daly
May 05, 2018 @ 20:06:30
I do miss receiving letters. But I don’t miss writing them 🙂
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 20:10:50
Really? I loved writing them!!!
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 18:41:09
😊
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 18:39:16
I’ve got a box full too!!!
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Unbound Roots
May 05, 2018 @ 17:56:38
There’s nothing better than receiving a real letter from a loved one in the mail. I too remember the feeling of excitement of receiving letters from my boyfriend (now husband) when he went away to college. I have kept all the letters in a box, and I never intend to dispose of them. I’m so happy your daughter is writing letters. My children also love sending letters in the mail – and receiving them. I hope this practice never totally goes away.
Thanks for a thought-provoking post, Ritu!
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LaurenEph
May 05, 2018 @ 16:20:56
I love to get a letter, or a card. It’s great to receive post 😊
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 18:38:03
Totally Lauren!
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Masha
May 05, 2018 @ 15:48:04
I love to receive and to send cards, I don’t get letters only emails and truth be told I don’t send letters either, but I’ll send cards for celebrations. There is really something magical that opening a card can deliver. ❤
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 18:37:36
Definitely Masha! I agree!
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Love is life
May 05, 2018 @ 14:43:13
best
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angelanoelauthor
May 05, 2018 @ 14:13:13
I do think there’s a magic to letters. The lack of immediacy improves the savor. We humans have the capability to anticipate pleasures, experience it, then reflect on it later. That’s three distinct things! In today’s fast moving world instant gratification and communication gives us a quick hit, but ruins the sweet anticipation of pleasure to come.
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 18:36:57
I agree totally totally! Thank you for commenting!
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susielindau
May 05, 2018 @ 14:08:18
So true! I had a penpal in England when I was in grade school. I wish I could find the letters. I would look her up!
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 18:36:25
It is so lovely rereading old letters 😍
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J-Dub
May 05, 2018 @ 13:06:57
I do miss writing and receiving letters. Yet not enough to keep up the tradition.
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 18:35:31
That’s the thing it’s an effort!
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A Girl and Her Passport
May 05, 2018 @ 12:43:26
Oh, I miss real letters. I still check the mailbox to see if I have gotten any even though I know there won’t be anything there. I feel this way about email now. It’s all ads and very little real mail.
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 18:35:10
All ads and bills… I know the feeling!!!!
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Lisa Orchard
May 05, 2018 @ 12:43:23
I love these flash fiction posts! I may just have to participate in one of these some day! 😉
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 18:34:51
You should Lisa! They take you all sorts of places!
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Shelley
May 05, 2018 @ 12:36:30
I enjoyed reading your take on this prompt. I agree letters are fun to send and receive. Nice post – enjoy your Saturday!
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 18:34:29
Thank you Shelley! Happy Saturday!
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Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)
May 05, 2018 @ 12:19:04
Our younger generation don’t know how to write letters – formal or informal! I must admit to rarely writing any these days, but last year when I became Chiar of our alumni I received a letter from an old boy….a really old old boy in his 90s. It was lovely – very polite, congratulating me on my post and telling me about his time at the school and so unexpected. I remember having a penpal in Finland as a child and that anticipation of a letter through the door….memories and nostalgia!!
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 18:34:01
I used to have a German penal too! I want my kids to enjoy letter writing. But they are so uninterested!!!
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Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)
May 06, 2018 @ 09:58:32
I know!!!
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Dan Antion
May 05, 2018 @ 11:39:04
I do miss writing letters. There was something magical about the whole process. Now, it’s me’h.
Nice response to the prompt, Ritu.
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 18:32:49
You’re right Dan. Totally Me’h!!!!!
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You Can Always Start Now
May 05, 2018 @ 11:32:36
I posted my #SOCS letter also. You basically answered my question at the end. It is different waiting, receiving and writing a letter. I think it is a slower pace, sitting down, thinking, composing and yeah a bit of a lost art. There is something special about receiving a letter in the mail.
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 18:32:15
I saw your post!!! Love a letter!!!
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willowdot21
May 05, 2018 @ 11:29:43
I love letters and letter writing and when I was younger I wrote a lot. To friends, pen friends, hubby, family but now I must admit I am getting very lazy …and impatient.💜💜😁😁
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 18:31:50
We should rekindle the art sis!
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willowdot21
May 05, 2018 @ 19:56:09
Yes we should that would be a great thing to do 💜
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Don Massenzio
May 05, 2018 @ 11:15:44
It’s a lost art. With our email and texting culture, things like penmanship, grammar and complete sentences have gone by the wayside. I was actually mocked at work by much younger coworkers for writing texts and emails using formal language and correspondence structure. I will continue to do so, however.
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 18:30:04
I tend to do the same Don. I can’t help it. It’s how I was brought up 😍
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arv!
May 05, 2018 @ 11:14:31
I guess letter by post is very “old days kind of thing. At the same time, it’s nostalgic too!
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 18:29:25
A letter is more magical than a message!
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Debbie Harris
May 05, 2018 @ 09:47:06
I agree Ritu, letters are something this generation won’t understand like we do! It’s great to have memories in letters and I still get a thrill of receiving a letter or card in the mail.
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 10:11:29
I love to reread old letters too. It’s so wonderful to read them back 😊
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Gary
May 05, 2018 @ 09:43:54
Stream of conscious writing is something I’m considering trying out too Ritu. This one touched on much nostalgia. Post…first class and second class. One in the morning, the other afternoon. Deilverues on the money every day. Way better efficiency, reliable. Same with deliveries or workmen. Time of arrival given… no sometime during the day between 8 and 8. Hello, modern improved communications…. should be to the nearest minute now lol. And the dial up connection noise… heck, I remember that clang of beeps. Computers with IK of RAM, No computers even. Outdoors was the playing field, things arrived on time, bin men collected bins from your back garden, tiny things almost no waste, stuff broke and got fixed… progress… hmm…. shame it hasn’t really apart from faster tech!!
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 10:12:38
Lol! I don’t know. You get those messages “your delivery slot is between 10.38 and 11.08… ”
They’re getting a little more accurate 🤣
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Gary
May 05, 2018 @ 11:38:32
Is it DPD that now lets you track where they are on google maps? One of them does and tells me exactly how far away Luke is! But crap though…. it’s like NOW they think they’ve come up with the best ever service 😂😂
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 18:32:29
I know 🤣🤣🤣🤣
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Losing the Plot
May 05, 2018 @ 09:12:51
I think you hit the nail on the head there, with this generation missing out on the anticipation of receiving a letter, maybe they still get that with concert tickets? But patience is definitely waning everywhere which is sad
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 10:14:09
I love the immediacy of messaging and email… but the intimacy of a letter. That’s gone.. ..
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thatblogwherecheriemovestogermany
May 05, 2018 @ 08:36:47
I still love to write and receive letters. It’s a rare thing though now.
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 08:46:56
It really is Cherie, unfortunately!
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rachaelstray
May 05, 2018 @ 08:25:11
It’s a lost art letter writing I think. It’s great to encourage younger ones to write. I miss receiving letters. I used to have pen pals when I was younger.
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 08:46:31
WE try to cultivate the penpal thing at school, but the other curriculum things get in the way and the letter writing stops!
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rachaelstray
May 05, 2018 @ 08:51:03
It’s difficult isn’t it? So much to fit in.
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 09:06:49
Too much!
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amelia
May 05, 2018 @ 08:23:02
I love receiving letters too! But it’s been a while… just bills these days 😢
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 08:45:20
Tell me about it Amelia!
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Midlife Smarts
May 05, 2018 @ 08:17:40
Great reminder about the joy in receiving a letter. At primary school, I had a penpal in America and got so excited when I saw the airmail envelope arrive!! I still love getting letters but they are few and far between now. Birthday and Christmas cards are lovely to receive.
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 08:45:09
I’d rather a wonderful, thoughtfully written birthday card than a present to be honest!
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OIKOS™-Redaktion
May 05, 2018 @ 07:39:04
Hey! Wonderful words! You will become the promoter for handwritten letters. 😉
But really no one can imagine love letters (only) by eletronic devices.
Wish you all a great weekend.Use it to relax, giving the birds the possibility to fly, and in the meanwhile take care of Sonu Singh too. lol Michael
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 08:04:29
Thank you Michael! Letters… If only they made a comeback!
It’s a long weekend here so I hope to be reading my manuscript!!!
The birds are doing great, though not interesting in coming out of their cage!!
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OIKOS™-Redaktion
May 05, 2018 @ 08:16:03
Thank you for response, Ritu! Its my daily ritual 😉 thinking on the birds and the cat. LOL.
Dont stress you with the manuscript. I wish you the best. Have nice short holidays. 😉 Michael
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Ritu
May 05, 2018 @ 08:44:40
Thanks!!! You have a great weekend too!
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OIKOS™-Redaktion
May 05, 2018 @ 09:06:20
😉 😉 😉 😉 😉Thank you!!! 😉 😉 😉 😉 😉
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OIKOS™-Redaktion
May 05, 2018 @ 07:33:05
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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