I’ve composed many blog posts in my head and written none of them. I could speculate as to why, but in the meantime, I’ll just do my best to get over myself and write something today.
A few weeks ago, I read Grant Faulkner’s Substack ode to letter writing. I love sending and receiving letters, Who doesn’t? But then again, maybe some people never have. It’s weird for me to think about, but I suppose some folks, especially younger ones, never think about getting letters. Why would they when they can just text?
I wrote so many letters in the Peace Corps. Not everyone write me back, but a few friends did. Some even wrote regularly. One dear friend sent letters filled with comics or funny pictures. She’d decorate with envelope with quotes and funny messages. They meant the world to me, and now I can look back at them and time travel to those wild days.
Sometimes I include a letter with the art I send my Patrons over on Patreon. Or a zine.
My hope is that they enjoy finding something in the mail meant for them that isn’t a bill or junk. In a way, writing these blog posts, sending out my newsletter, sharing my stories are all letters in various forms. They’re all words sent out to others to connect and share. The ones you can hold in your hand seem especially magical.
How should we feel about a world with no more paper mail? No more lover letters bound with ribbon. No more lost letters to find in an attic. No more tactile words from the past. Of course, plenty of eras came and went without envelopes and post offices. Generations lived without knowing how to write much less having an easy way to send a missive. Think of all the things that had to happen for letter writing to even be a thing.
Paper, pens, and postal delivery systems had to be invented and made affordable for people other than kings. And people have had fun with it, of course, trying to create invisible ink, secret codes, beautiful papers, and elegant pens.
Can you think of famous letter writers? What’s your own history of mail? Do you have a box of letters stashed somewhere? When was the last time you sent a letter through the post? Do you have a thing for stationery? Y’all, I love stationery–cards and papers and envelops. And currently on my wish list is a book dedicated to the letter writing arts.
So, that’s enough for now. Send a letter to someone if you’ve a mind to. Thanks for reading.
Of course, you can support my writing and art (and get some cool writing and art) over on Patreon, Paper Octopus, and Etsy.
Marta Bacon 
I love the art, letters, and mini-zines you send! At the same time, I feel incredibly guilty because I’ve never been a letter-writer myself so never reply to you. Maybe someday I will; in the meantime, know that every time I get an envelope from you it makes my day. ❤
I love writing letters and of course receiving them. They are treasures in ways that emails and texts cannot duplicate. Before I retired, I assigned my seniors to write a letter to themselves that I would keep and mail to them in five years. I asked my final class who had ever received a letter in the mail and no one ever had!! That still makes me sad.