I can't remember the first e-mail I ever sent. Somehow this should have lodged into my brain, but it didn't. I always preferred letters, and I still stand by this although I don't write them as frequently as I used to do. Mostly I find myself writing letters when I'm on a plane, pouring my heart out on crappy notebook paper with squigglies on the side. Don't get me wrong; I love e-mail, both sending and receiving, even if I do get behind. But letters are a chance for reflection. You never regret pushing send too fast on a letter whereas with e-mail you often long for a switch to shut your computer off if you are in an altered state -- angry or drunk or armed with too little information and too much time. The list goes on and on. But letters are a different story. You have to pause to get a stamp. There is a lag time.
And the content of the two forms is very different. In e-mail, I often am writing to communicate, the way one eats merely to satisfy hunger. The audience expectation is different. In a letter, I must work to be entertaining, charming. Make connections, transitions. While a letter might not be worthy of keeping for the ages, it at least has to seem as if you put some thought into it. And another plus -- I've never sent a letter to the wrong person by accident. In the information age, things move awfully fast. Not a lot of time for contemplation. So I turn it over to you, dear reader. What's the last letter you got? Ever regretted sending a letter or e-mail? Tell all. In fact, why don't you write me a letter? (or a comment would be fine -- see you tomorrow!)
Michelle's Spell of the Day
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Matthew 6:21
Cocktail Hour
Short story collection suggestion: Miracle Boy Pinckney Benedict
Benedictions and Maledictions
Happy Sunday!
21 comments:
It's so weird that Jesus never wrote a word!--Saul of Tarsus
I don't care how much money I've got to spend. Got to get back to my baby. My baby just wrote me a letter!--The Boxtops
Send nudies too!!!--Short bus and Special
I always thought of photography as a naughty thing to do--that was one of my favorite things about it--and when I first did it, I felt perverse!--Diane Arbus
The first mistake of art is to assume that it's serious.--Lester Bangs
Art is making something out of nothing and selling it.--Frank Zappa
Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.--Simonides.
Write while the heat is in you. The writer who postpones the recording of his thoughts uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with. He cannot inflame the minds of his audience.--Henry David Thoreau
When we see a natural style we are quite amazed because we expect to see an author and find a man.--Blaise Pascal
Art, like morality, consists of drawing the line somewhere.--G.K. Chesterson
The last letter I received was from a former love. It came to me many years ago now. It had the promise of new beginnings, though it never came to fruition. I still have it.
I think there are very few people that don't have at least one letter, note or email that they regret.
Regrets, I've had a few! But still, too few too mention!--Frank S.
Too too twain!!--M. Brooks
My first email was subject line : MY BUTT
Mail : ITCHES !
I'll never forget it, and yes, I DO have a way with words.
How do you think I feel?--Huge Heffner
I admire the habit of letter writing, but I never cultivated it back in the day when it made sense. I'm just too lazy, although I do enjoy reading letters written by authors in the long ago.
Detroit Proper!!!!! Detroit sucks, man. Don't go there unless you want a decreased lifespan.--Honkey
Hi Doll, My 96 year old Grannie sends !! me long, darling letters. I usually call her back tho. I am a stationary addict and buy it all the time. I used to write long, boring, detailed letters to my friends! Poor babies....xo
Brev is the soul of wi!--Baba Ram Das
Catching up on my reading.
Last letter I received was from a pen pal back in the late 70's.
I do write the ocassional letter, but it's been at least a year or two since I wrote one.
I must say you're really good about non-e-communication. I wish I was better about sending letters & cards around. I used to be, but I never got anything back (until your very thoughtful cards & such.) These days I seem to be much busier, too. Not that that's an excuse...
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