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Gift of a Handwritten Letter
Heartwarming Handwritten Words by Sue Burns
L
ast fall, I was writing with my dear friend
they may be. The ability to text my youngest as he
Barbara about a charming book called Love and
attended college (and now lives out of state) and
Saffron, in which she was the inspiration for one
send photos and memories of my grandchildren to
of the two main characters. It’s the story of Immy,
my daughter without interrupting her work is a
a magazine columnist in Washington state, and
priceless gift. But I do reminisce about growing up
Joan, a young journalist in California. They connect
in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, before emails and texts
in October of 1962, when Joan writes to tell
and FaceTime, when long-distance phone calls
Immy how much she likes her column, and their
were cost-prohibitive, and letters were the way we
friendship is chronicled through the story as
all kept in touch.
they share life’s ups and downs across the miles.
Since drawings appeared on cave walls, we’ve
In one letter, Immy expressed that a handwritten
written to each other. From the days when letters
letter “…takes one’s complete focus and shows
could take months to cross the ocean to the birth
thought and caring for the recipient…with a letter
of overnight delivery, they’ve been mainstays and
I must pay close attention. There is unequaled
lifelines in our lives. We wrote letters to share
satisfaction in composing words on a blank page,
news and happenings; to celebrate milestones; or
sealing them in an envelope, writing an address
just to say hello and send love. When we traveled,
in my own messy hand…it’s like preparing a gift,
postcards were a must, squeezing as many words
and I feel like I receive one when a letter arrives…”
as would fit in the limited open space on the back,
I wrote to Barbara to tell her how much I
detailing where we were adventuring and what we
appreciated Immy’s thoughts, because I feel
had seen, always with a “Wish you were here!”
the same way, and she agreed.
Pre-addressed, stamped stationery was on every
Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for today’s
summer camp packing requirements list.
technology that allows me to be in communication
During certain times of hardship, letters were even
with family and friends, wherever in the world
more treasured. In his writings from Europe to my
