Week two of the 52 Weeks 52 Letters project came and went. And guess what? I sent out nothing. (When in doubt, blame the virus!) I did however have the pleasure of being on the receiving end of not one, but two pieces of actual mail.
The first piece of mail I received was from my Compact buddy Chelsea. She and I had scheduled a get together for a cup of tea last week, but my nasty virus butted in on the plans. So instead, she sent me a darling card with a bag of Throat Coat tea, which I promptly brewed up and put to good use. (And no, wasn’t as disgusting as it sounds.) Chelsea and I met in January of 2007 when we were co-interviewed about The Compact on NPR. It turned out we were neighbors, and we’ve kept in touch ever since, even getting together a time or two.
So thank you, Chelsea! It was a wonderful treat to find that particular goody in my mailbox, much nicer more than the usual advertisements and RN junk mail. (Seriously, the nurses’ association must make a buttload of money selling our names to anyone with a pulse!)
The second piece of mail that I received this week was from an old college chum, Christopher. Although I went to Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, he and I actually met here in Portland, a few years before I was college bound. He was living my with best friend Mara, and working in her mother’s basement preschool. He was a *giggle* college boy, so I can’t remember any actual conversations we might have had, but he was a welcome familiar face nonetheless.
Christopher turned out to be a buddy of my future husband, and Facebook brought him back into our lives, even warranting a enjoyable visit from his family of five during the summer of 2009.
The piece of mail I received was a padded envelope that included a hand written letter, as well as two cakes of homemade, fresh from the garden lavender soap. How sweet is that?!
I do have two addressed and stamped letters ready to send, I just need to write the buggers. The kids are back in school today, so I have no excuses to shirk this duty. Hmm . . . maybe I should brew another cup of tea first.
Are you participating in the 52 Weeks, 52 Letters Project? Please add your thoughts in the comments section below.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I hadn’t planned on the 52 weeks of 52 letters project, but as I read your post today, I turned my head just slightly to my right, and there sits my basket of notecards, postcards, stationery and now that all my contacts are in my phone, there’s no reason in the world not to. I’ll get one in the mail today! Thanks for the ‘nudge’.
You’re welcome!
Katy
It has been nice participating in the 52 letter project. Thus far I have sent thank-yous, a letter to my MIL about her brother’s funeral, and a card to a friend celebrating 40 yrs. I like the reminder to connect. My daughter received a letter this week from her aunt which just made her grin.
I’m so glad I found this challenge. I’ll be sending out letter #3 tomorrow and posting on my blog about it. I’ve had two huge thank you’s from the first letters, so hopefully I’ll get some letters back soon 🙂
Jessica
If you want to receive less junk mail, you might try contacting the nurses’ association and requesting that they not sell, rent, or trade your address. Many organizations will honor such requests.
My sister and I have been rocking with the snail mail challenge. Today I sent a care package of duck sauce (think chinese food) and pictures from Christmas. Last week it was a magazine to my sister and another to my friend out in Arizona. Before that it was a note to my sister . I have a list of about 10 cards I need to mail this week – sympathy cards, thank you’s, get wells. We are pretty much snail mail addicts anyway but with the holidays and life in general getting in the way, this challenge has been a good way for me to get back in the habit. Thanks!
I’ve been enjoying the challenge and have gotten a friend or two to take it on also. Almost as fun as actually writing the letters is writing about writing the letters (see my Squidoo page by clicking on my name). Thanks for presenting the challenge.
I’m doing the challenge, although I’m behind on blogging and haven’t written about letter #2. (I blame it on a lethal combination of a snow day, a snow delay day, and 4-day weekend combining MLK Day with a teacher in-service day.)
What caught my eye was Yellow Springs! I live about 90 minutes away from Yellow Springs and we go up there a couple times a year for some shopping and a trip to Young’s Dairy for a chocolate bull shake. BEST chocolate shake in the whole WORLD!
Youngs is THE BEST! They used to mark their donuts down to 10¢ apiece after midnight, at which point all the Antioch students would rush the joint.
I haven’t been through Yellow Springs since 1990, but I doubt it’s changed that much.
Katy
What an awesome idea! I can’t remember the last time I actually sent a letter (except for Christmas cards which I even had an epic fail at this year). I am definitely going to give this a try. Thanks!
I still write letters and I own some treasured fountain pens. Writing, as in physically writing, cramps and all, is awesome. Buying paper, posting, receiving letters in your mailbox… I have two pen pals, one doesn’t use the internet (incredible huh?!) and the other does but still loves handwritten notes.
For several months, I have been corresponding with my son who is in Basic Training. Even though he now has a cell phone, he said that he still enjoys receiving letters while away from home.
I am participating in the challenge and I’m happy to say that I’m even up-to-date! I posted letter #3 yesterday and I already know who I’m writing to next week. I don’t want to get ahead of myself but this is turning out to be more fun than I realized I would have.
Week #1, I sent two letters (one to a great-aunt and one to an older lady friend of mine who has been unable to get out because of health problems and weather limitations). Week #2, I missed. Week #3 sent two letters – one to my grandparents and one to my niece. None of them will write back, but that’s ok with me. I know each of them could use a little pick-me-up of receiving mail and that’s why I’m in. It’s such an easy way to bring some sunshine to someone’s life – on MY schedule and with so little cost and effort and I just feel closer to the person by performing the act of writing. Thanks for the challenge. I’m enjoying participating.
I’m doing great so far on this challenge. The first week I sent a letter to my bast friend since second grade. We live in different states now, but we like to keep in touch. Last week, I sent a birthday card to another high school friend. This week, I mailed a package to my parents with books about Maryland and Wahsington DC. They’re planning a trip to come visit me and I thought the books would make them excited!
I love this challenge so far!
Woo hoo! I wrote a thank-you letter last week and a fan letter to a favorite author this week. I can’t believe I’ve lasted this long
This is a great challenge. Snail mail is so much more personable than email. It shows that you are willing to take the time out of our busy lives to send something thoughtful. The postal system is still going to run their machines, drive their big rigs for companies that do online shopping and admail which is what they have turned to keep their revenues, so I think that a few actually letters, post cards, and gifts are important to make the postal employees feel like they have a real value in our society. I used to work for Canada Post and Christmas time was my favorite to see how many people still share cards. Also hand sorting postcards from all over the world was pretty cool too.
I’m not going to be able to write a letter every week, but I’m still writing, and, best of all, someone wrote me back. It was awesome!