The Letter

"I wrote you 365 letters. I wrote you a letter everyday for a year."-The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (from Noah to Allie).

I love The Notebook....what a movie.....what a romance. Sigh. God, when you write my love story...can you PLEASE put a little of Noah's romance in there somewhere. But I digress this isn't about sappy movies or my pathetic love life. This is about the lost art of letter writing.

There was a lady who was a member of my church who sent every church member a birthday card every year. She sent all high school and college graduates money and a card upon their graduation. She used it as a ministry tool. She's now living the last years of her life in Maryland with her family...but she's still sending cards. Even though her handwriting's not as strong as it used to be. As well as her memory. But she still sends those cards.

I had a discussion last week with my Christian Counselor about how it hurts my feelings that I remember every detail of my friends lives: their marriages, anniversaries, bad days, good days, engagements, deaths, new jobs, a pick me up...you name it..I'm there. But do I get a "I'm sorry you failed your insurance test horribly" card....nope. Not a one. She said it's unfair of me to place my expectations on my friends. Hmmpphhh.

Warning: this is not a shameless ploy for mail. Do not go out and buy a card and start scrambling for my address. You will look pathetic. But thanks.

I love writing letters. I have an old-fashioned writing desk packed with stationary, cards, gel pens and stickers. I love HOLIDAYS. And I do remember every occasion. Easter cards are going out tomorrow. I hate email. Email is for work. It's for "hey, if you don't pay your road maintenance dues I'm going to hunt your butt down like Dog the Bounty Hunter"..it's for "hey, make an insurance payment". It's not for birthday wishes. All I'm saying is that it would be nice to receive a card....you know...a "I'm sorry you popped your cork in WalMart", or a "I'm sorry that with the health care system the way it is you can't get insurance due to your pre-existing condition card", or a "Glad your dog is 8" card. I don't want to receive an email or FB post one day that says "Hey, sorry you are on your deathbed" in the subject line.

I have a friend who I've been writing weekly for 20 years...and no, they aren't in prison. They used to live in the same town as me. We never saw each other in person or even talked on the phone but those letters came and went every week from the Hundred Acre Woods to Walker Cove Rd...probably 5 miles away. Now she is in SC and we still write. I also have a pen pal, in PA, that I've been writing since I was 11 (we once met in Myrtle Beach)...we met thru a pen pal magazine. When I was younger I had pen pals in Turkey, Austria and Hong Kong. My love for letter writing has been with me for a while.

A month ago I decided I was done with thinking about everyone else.....no more cards....who cares if their millionth child turned 4 or it was their 2nd marriages' 5th anniversary...not my problem!!!!!!!! I lasted 48 hours. Then I had to send a Snoopy encouragement card for a friend going thru a rough family time. I guess maybe sending cards and letters is my ministry because I can't imagine my life without it.....I have 4 non-Easter cards going out tomorrow (2 Thank You cards, 1 "sorry about the state of your marriage", and 1 "just because"). Maybe I'm more like Mrs. Elizabeth Sides than I thought. Not a bad comparison. In fact, it's quite a honor.