writing plenty of them, back in the old old days :-).
Living in a far flung area of the city, my sister and I had no friends we could visit. So once school closed for the two-month summer vacation we were cut off from the world. We had no means of communication. No mail, no chats, no phones – not even a landline. So we’d write; as would our friends. We’d wait for the postman to deliver. And woe betide anyone who dared to as much as touch them. They were ‘private’ you see, even when all they had was how much holiday homework had been done, how many times the parks had been visited and how many films had been watched.
Then there was this whole idea about having pen pals. There were magazines with addresses of kids who wanted pen pals and I wrote to one of them once too but nothing ever came of it. I still loved the idea of sharing a bit about yourself with a stranger in a far away land. Perhaps, that’s where this blogging thing began – this writing to strangers and making friends.
It’s is wonderful how my blog has connected me to so many people I haven’t ever met. We decided to take it a step further and send each other letters – proper hand written ones – just like the ‘olden’ times. Nope I refuse to label it ‘snail mail’ – that sounds mean!
I wrote to Eli, who blogs at A Global Fusionista. It was like talking to a friend – a friend I hadn’t met in a while – since Eli had been off her blog for sometime.
I received such a warm mail from her that it quite made my day. It is amazing how people from different nationalities, different backgrounds and completely different attitudes and experiences can connect in such a special way.
I got mine too from Swathi who blogs at Flightless Bird Thoughtful Wings. What’s more it arrived right on Friendship Day last month. What a coincidence! She had plenty to share having graduated recently. Her letter took me back to the time when I had just finished college. How confused I was! How unsure, yet excited! It was a privilege sharing a bit of her hopes and dreams, her dilemmas and her decisions. A letter is truly so much more than blogging.
I am hoping we can keep the connections going. How long has it been since you wrote to someone – really actually wrote? If you have a loved one in a far off land – your mum, a brother, a sister, a friend, a teacher – do pick up that pen and write to them. Then watch their surprise and pleasure, for nothing beats a handwritten labour of love.
Those were the days .. I got a bag full of snail mails and sometimes when iI feel lonely and lost I do climb up my loft and read through them and cry and laugh.. and the day suddenly becomes beautiful.
Bikram's
That you kept the letters safe says a lot about how much they meant to you. Nostalgia is always bitter-sweet.
Lovely post Tulika and Snail Mail was such a fabulous effort. I totally loved it.
Absolutely. It revived many memories for all of us.
So happy that this was a pleasure for you, Tulika. We are indeed blessed to come from a generation that had these lovely tokens of expression.
Yes we are. Gadgets have made our lives easy but our kids have lost out on many simple pleasures.
How awesome this much feel na?
Its been ages since I received a letter and I'm so looking forward to receiving my snail mail.
Does feel great specially because letters are part of such happy memories.
Your post swept me to my school days.Those handwritten letters and B'day cards carried their sweet fragrance always bringing a smile.It was fun to write and receive them.I still remember that old postcard and the blue inland letter:)
Ah yes the inland letters!! Such memories.
Oh, sweetie – you made my day with your heartfelt letter. Loved it. Something is on its way to you now btw…:-) big hugs:-)
I'm all excited. Waiting Eli.
Those were the days!! It used to be so much fun to have pen pals. I remember having one stationary set that looked like a big huge sandwich. You wrote your letter inside, then folded it, sealed it with an olive sticker on the back, and addressed it on the front.
Aw sounds cute. We used to make our own letterheads too.
This activity was so much exciting! Oh, the joy of writing and receiving a letter 🙂 I had fun writing to you and pouring my heart out in that letter 🙂 Hope you liked it 🙂 Keep in touch Tulika 🙂
I sure will Swathi.
Snail mails were the craze back in school/college days. And yes! No one else in the household was allowed to open our letters! I used to spend a big portion of my pocket money on those fancy letter writing pads from Archies. Even had those light-weight rice-paper letter pads for friends who moved abroad after school! It used to be so much fun writing loooooong letters to friends and then waiting for their replies, all the while hoping that your letter hadn't got lost in the way! 😀
Oh yes we used to buy those too. Such fancy ones were available at Archies then. Wonder if they still are!