Letter Writing MEME

I do not write letters like I used to, but all my life I loved writing letters to friends and family. I remember growing up on military bases and seeing my father type a letter to his mother every week. Without easy access to long-distance telephone calls and no concept of internet communication, the only way to communicate for the first 25-35 years of my life was through mailed letters. Through the years, my writing has degenerated to notes I write, except lately when my hands hurt too much from RA.

I was thrilled to find someone who likes letter-writing through RevGalBlogPals: Susan at Fruitful Words. In 2009, she even did a series of posts about letter-writing. In one of these, she had a letter-writing MEME. (Remember when we were all doing meme's back then?) So I decided to do that here!

Answer in the comment section, please, or take these questions and answer them on your blog. Be sure to link back here so I can read your answers.

Tag 4 people and then write one of them a real letter! Let’s inundate the postal service with some “love” mail. Be sure to tell who you sent your letter to and why.

• What was the last letter you wrote? To whom? The occasion? Was it a letter or more of a note?

The last note I wrote was to my two daughters who live in Seattle. (This won't be a surprise for them now!)

• Do you prefer writing with a pen/pencil or with a mechanical device like a Blackberry or computer?

For long letters, I prefer to use Word on the computer. When my hands are not hurting, I like to use a pen on stationery/notecards.

• Do you prefer receiving handwritten letters/notes over email? Or makes no difference, it’s all communication.

It is so rare to receive a handwritten letter that it seems almost silly to say I prefer those. Still, an actual personal note via email is nice.

• Do you save your hand-written letters? Why or why not? Describe a special letter that you’ll never toss.

I save hand-written letters from my children and from special friends. I am glad that I saved a few written by my mother: someone's handwriting brings forth their presence, even after their death.

• What kind of paper do you typically use? Envelope? Stamp? Embellishments?

I like notecards and love to find special cards to send people. I find really good ones on my visits to WA state every summer; there are much better cards sold there than I can find in south TX.

I like to buy pretty stamps, which I often learn about at Letter Writers Alliance.

• What is the most unusual letter you’ve ever sent? Received?

Probably on puzzle pieces.

• What was the last handwritten letter you received? From whom? The occasion? How did it make you feel?

I got a long handwritten letter from a 94-year-old woman who used to attend the Wisdom Class (weekly book study) at our church, but has moved to Houston. I know it is an effort for her to write, and I loved hearing about her life and thoughts. Plus, a handwritten note or letter makes me feel like someone cares enough about me to take the time to write!

• Tag 4 people and then write one of them a real letter! Let’s inundate the postal service with some “love”mail. Be sure to tell who you sent your letter to and why.
• (I think I will be sending out left-over postcards from my trip to Spain, because my hands were hurting too much back in May to write all the ones I'd bought there!)
  

Thank you, Susan, for this!!