I was clearing off the table near the printer and I came across a thick stack of copies that I had apparently removed from the printer tray and set aside, presumably to go through later. Well, later had arrived. Among the printed knitting patterns and online receipts emerged a growing stack of e-mail letters that I had printed. Some were from overflowing work folders I had forwarded long ago, but only just recently gotten around to printing. Those words from friends, I love them! I have saved pretty close to every letter I've ever received. One or two might have slipped through the cracks accidentally, but for the most part I have a nice little treasure trove of memories!
I keep them in this great wooden box my mom gave me, her dad (my Grampa, of course) made it for her when she was a little girl. She used it to keep the paper dolls she made. It's a simple, sturdy box, no frills, and now for the last, I don't know how many years, it has been holding my old letters. A while back, maybe four years if I had to guess, I took the time to organize them chronologically by sender. While doing this, I took the time to re-read each letter. Now, I'm no "hot chick" to borrow the turn of a phrase from a friend, so while there where a couple-three cushy bundles of letters from old boyfriends, my letters, came to me from friends and family, but mostly friends. Childhood friends gone off to collage, new grown up friends, now moved away, friends I met while visiting other friends! FRIENDS!
Letters, sweet, friendly letters! If ever for one moment in your life you think no-one cares, these letters are an insurance policy against that nonsense! I giggled my way through the silly ones and got misty when I need to, was glad I never got around to removing the photographs that had been enclosed with some of the letters. E-mails, they're just not as glamorous, but I'll save them just the same. Maybe when I sort out the emails into their little bundles and they are tied nicely with string, they'll seem a bit more like proper letters.
There is a subcategory of letter...I may be going out on a limb here... but I'm gonna share this with you, I keep a sketch book with all the interesting little notes people jot and have left for me over the years. On my desk, on my door, at school, in my back mud room, on my car. The first one I saved was from my brother Rog, it made me giggle and I couldn't part with it, so I glued it in one of my sketch books. Then, when I got another little note, I knew just where to save it! And so it began. Children write the best notes! If you are lucky enough to receive any of those, treat them like the gold that they are!
Maybe you've saved your old letters too and now that this is near the end, you'll go find the pretty little box you've got them stashed away in and re-read them. Maybe this has inspired you to bust out some snazzy paper and a pen (I've been known to use a pretty/cool page from a magazine, if you plan the envelope sometimes you can get the pictures just where you want them.) and dash off a letter to someone near or far.
I'll leave you with this little tid-bit. I'm missing this note/love letter. It's not in my wooden box with all his other letters, nor is it in my book of little notes. It is however one of the sweetest love notes I've ever received. Though it's not oozing with flowery words, it remains through the years, a sweet memory. It was a long time ago when a younger me worked three jobs, the last being as a cashier in a factory cafe, at the end of the day. Between jobs two and three I always spent the entire time on the phone with this young man of considerable interest. On this particular day, I had a cold! I was uncomfortable and excused myself from the call. I have to laugh when I think of it, as we got off the phone, he asked me, "Do you want me to come over there?" It was a nice gesture. In that spilt second, I thought, what can he do to help? I abruptly answered, no, I want my mom. (I was sick, young and impetuous,forgive me!) I finished my shift which went until midnight and when I went out to my car I found that he had driven all the way from his apartment on the West side to the factory complex where I worked. He didn't stay, I don't mean to say he was waiting for me when I got out of work. No, he had come and gone and there was a fat, square note taped to the drivers side of my windshield. A very chubby little note packed with care. In his beautiful hand writing (he was an artist) were these simple words, "I hope this will help you feel better." The note was wrapped around a small envelope of fizzy cold remedy drink. It was such a sweet simple gesture, nothing flashy. I can't imagine why I don't have that note! I must have been delirious with fever! I've shared it now with you, and you can help me keep the memory safe too! That's what friends do, we are memory keeper for each other.
Write someone a letter, surprise them, encourage them to save it! Write your children love letters filled with all the wonderful stuff that makes them who they are! Hey, you could even do the same thing for yourself if you need a boost!
Blessings friend!
Melissa
P.S.It's been a positively uplifting week here in the good old USA! The spirit of optimism reigns and I believe everyone has been touched! Can we get an Amen!
