The Charming pleasures of the written word.

@Inlemay (17714)
South Africa
May 16, 2016 6:27am CST
I was sending new postcards on the Postcrossing site as all of the others I sent last moth, have arrived at their destination safely. I love the fact that people are still interested in sending and receiving snail-mail, even the younger generation are enjoying it. However it might be too late for them to experience the wonderful world of the written letter which has always been a thing I have loved. My granny started writing to me when I was five years old - they were simple yet loving letters which I still have wrapped in a ribbon. She would write to me at least every second month as we did not see each other frequently. I was and still am the envy of my cousins when they found out about the letters, as they were just as fond of her, but lived nearer and she did not write to them. I also have a ribbon folder of my love letters from my husband - I think I might just give him a few to read for his Birthday - remind him of his sweet, endless love and affection as he stated in his letters - "love you forever" Does that ever happen - Love forever? I am loving the charming pleasures of writing postcards to people all over the world.
14 people like this
15 responses
@gudheart (12659)
16 May 16
I hardly ever write to anyone anymore, which is quite sad. Everything is done electronically.
2 people like this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
16 May 16
sadly it has all gone Electronically!
1 person likes this
@gudheart (12659)
16 May 16
@Inlemay Yep. My hand actually aches if I start writing now!! how bad is that.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
16 May 16
@gudheart maybe you should have hand writing exercises every day to get that stiff hand mobile - Hand Gymnastics
@LadyDuck (454973)
• Switzerland
16 May 16
I have a postcards album, but no letters from my husband. I met him on the workplace and from that day on we worked together. No need to send letters, even when we were still fiancees.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (454973)
• Switzerland
17 May 16
@Inlemay My husband is not at all romantic, real Italian man.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
17 May 16
@LadyDuck I thought the Italian men lived up to their ROMANTIC Language - you do know that Italian is called the Romantic language of the world "A micro-survey of 320 linguists found that l’italiano tops their list for the most romantic tongue. In the inevitable battle with French, Latin lovers from across the Alps came out slightly ahead, with Italian winning 45% to 40%."
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
16 May 16
my hubby and i saw each other every day - but when I would pass my car or leave for work, I would find letters on my windshield - when he was at Uni - he posted one every day
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
16 May 16
Speaking of postcards, at the beginning of the 20th century many people had a postcard album. During WWI, my grandfather sent a postcard/day to my grandmother and she created a large album with them. Personally, I send maybe a handful of postcards/year during my holidays, and snail mails only if I have to ship something or for a registered letter. Quite all my mails are emails now.
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
16 May 16
@Inlemay That is a lot. I have only an album of postcards from the 1900's, but sadly it is not my grandmother's album. The cat is beautiful. I have also a tabby cat, but he is no more little.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
16 May 16
@topffer I would love to see your album from the 1900's especially the stamps
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
16 May 16
I have 3 postcard books and one nearly ready to be bound - I put them on my coffee table and my visitors peruse the cards, the stamps and of course all the beautiful travel places. I quickly dashed to the lounge and took a photo of my coffee table, with my postcard books and little Talu decided to pose for you as well.
2 people like this
@just4him (303373)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
17 May 16
It does seem to be dying out. Not many people receive actual letters today. When @valmnz 's postcard arrived a few days ago, my son exclaimed, you have a letter, an actual letter. I now have postcards and will send one back to her and get signed up on postcrossing so I can start sending my postcards to the world and enjoy the feeling of writing an actual letter again. Something I haven't done in a very long time, thanks to e-mail. I think it's wonderful you still have your letters from your grandmother and husband.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
17 May 16
how exciting for you to get one from Val
1 person likes this
@just4him (303373)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
17 May 16
@Inlemay Yes it was. And now I am signed up with Postcrossing and only need to buy some international stamps.
@JudyEv (323744)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 May 16
I was always a letter-writer and wrote to my grandfather quite regularly and later to my Mum every week. Later, when email surpassed letters, I would send a lengthy email each week.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
16 May 16
I dont seem to be able to write a personal note on an email. even now, i write it in word and then attact it to an email to my friend in Belgium and Scotland
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
17 May 16
@JudyEv they are my treasures
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323744)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 May 16
@Inlemay I do this too. I've kept all my 'letters' to Mum. Reading the previous one helped trigger ideas on what to write about. Sometimes it was hard to come with news every week. They've acted as a diary really.
1 person likes this
@AnneEJ (4917)
• Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Quebec
16 May 16
Just thinking about a video my daughter gave me for Mother's Day, and I watched it a couple of nights ago. It is "The Letter Writer" and was a very interesting story It is available on YouTube
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
17 May 16
@AnneEJ Oh that will be charming - get the popcorn ready and a nice big box of chocolates and dont forget a few tissues
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
16 May 16
I have seen that movie - I loved it
1 person likes this
@AnneEJ (4917)
• Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Quebec
16 May 16
@Inlemay My sister is going to be here tomorrow night and I hope she will want to watch it with me, as I wouldn't mind seeing it again.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
16 May 16
The only time that I send a letter now is by including one in a package, but even then I tend to typeset them on the computer.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (136860)
• Philippines
16 May 16
Personally speaking, I haven't receive any postcards lately. I think the modern world change everything.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
16 May 16
I think WE let the world change how we live through it. postage is still available
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17100)
• New Zealand
21 May 16
This whole postcard exchange seems to be snowballing here, fantastic. And, I've started writing to penfriends again too.
@jaboUK (64363)
• United Kingdom
18 May 16
The way you are going you will soon fill another album
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
16 May 16
I am glad I shared the love that is postcrossing!
1 person likes this
• Centralia, Missouri
17 May 16
@Inlemay mwhaahahahaa lol
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
16 May 16
you have no idea what a monster you have created here in SA
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
16 May 16
I wouldn't have thought it but I've also switched over to e-mails. I have an excuse, though. I have arthritic knuckles and find writing by hand more and more difficult.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
16 May 16
Oh that is sad that you have arthritis in the hands - I started in both my small fingers, but have it on hold with some flaxseed oil and some magnesium rub
@AnneEJ (4917)
• Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Quebec
16 May 16
My husband passed away almost sixteen years ago, but I still have the box of letters that he wrote me before we were married. Once in awhile, I take them out and re-read them, and find myself falling in love with him all over again.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
16 May 16
that is such a love story in its own - I am hoping that which ever one of us survives the other will have that lost love refound in the letters - my children think I am a romantic
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
16 May 16
I can appreciate the immediacy and convenience of email but it's cold type on a screen. The unexpected joy of receiving a letter or postcard than has traveled from afar and handwritten is a personal touch.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
16 May 16
very well put - thanks for the lovely response
@Tampa_girl7 (48855)
• United States
16 May 16
Receiving postcards and letters is always delightful.