Ah! The Warmth of Handwritten Letters!!

Remember the times when, not so long ago, there was an eagerly awaited person every day? The postman in his khaki on his bicycle. As he clanged his bell, our hearts stopped. We wished he had something for us too. An envelope or a little postcard. Or a greeting card from a friend or a relative. Every Diwali and new year meant lots and lots of greeting cards – some printed, some hand painted. But all with a personal message in the sender’s handwriting.

And there used to be those regular blue inland letters from grandparents, uncles and aunts. We all looked forward to them as something special. Nothing could beat the thrill of opening a just-arrived letter. There used to be suspense, an expectant glow in the eyes and a keenness to read the letter through quickly. After the first read, the letter was savoured slowly line by line, extracting all the juice out of it, so to speak.

I rarely met my grand dad; we lived so far off. But I knew him through his letters. Even after so many years, I remember the special way he used to address his son and start his letters. After each Rakhi that mom sent to her brother, we were sure of his loving response coming along with a money order.

Now years later, when those relatives have passed on, their memories, thoughts and exhortations are still alive in their letters which I have carefully preserved.

Then somewhere along the way, we lost the art of letter writing. It didn’t happen gradually. It went kaput in a single fell stroke. All the letters in my stock are dated in the 20th century, none beginning with 2000. Suddenly emails took over letters which came to be known as snail mails. We stopped writing letters – or even writing for that matter. Surprisingly, no one moaned the loss.

As my kids grow older in this age of instant communication, letter writing seems like a thing of history. It’s been years since I wrote – I feel more comfortable just picking up the phone and talking to my family, or to anybody else for that matter. Who has the time to sit and write? We don’t have time anyway. We have so much to do – job, kids, home, malls, movies, TV…and so on.

Low tariffs have made long-distance calls easier. And if something can’t be conveyed on phone, we have the SMS and scraps. Life definitely has become a lot faster.

Technology does save us time. But at what cost? Gone now is the beautiful art of letter writing, one great tradition that was so personal, so warm, so exhilarating, so full of love and faith. The only times that the postman comes now is to drop a credit card bill or a statement from a bank.

In the midst of all this, I still open my treasure chest sometimes. A chest of a shoe box which I beautifully crafted to keep letters received from my parents, husband, brother and friends. Reading through a letter picked up randomly still makes me nostalgic. Those days seem just like yesterday when I read the stuff for the first time. Scribbled there are detailed descriptions of the events of the day, a piece of gossip and a joke or two. Letters from my mom and dad and brother are all full of encouragement. I marvel at the confidence they placed in me. Reading them again makes me feel so confident of my abilities. Letters from my husband are all so loving, capturing all the fleeting emotions that he experienced in those heady days. And letters from my friends remind me of all the fun we had together. Some still make me smile, some still make me think. This treasure trove of letters is the legacy that I have inherited. But hey, what am I passing on to my children? How will my children remember me?

There will be memories, of course, but not something they can read, re-read and reflect upon. Each letter I have tells a story of bygone times and I feel connected. And I need to pass on this lovely emotion of being connected to my children too.

It may seem odd but I am getting down to writing after so many years. I am going to make a small beginning. A little handmade card for my family, a little note to my son. I want to feel that warmth again. And I want to pass on a little bit of myself through these letters. A little bit of praise, a little bit of appreciation and a lot of love.

Emails and SMSes can be erased. But not letters. They are going to be my imprints in your heart, my loved ones!
My footprints on the sands of time, so to speak.

As I make a new beginning, I am reminded of the famous lines by the Carpenters:

Oh yes, wait a minute Mister Postman
(Wait)
Wait Mister Postman

Please Mister Postman, look and see
(Oh yeah)
If there’s a letter in your bag for me
(Please, Please Mister Postman)
Why’s it takin’ such a long time
(Oh yeah)
For me to hear from that boy of mine

There must be some word today
From my boyfriend so far away
Please Mister Postman, look and see
If there’s a letter, a letter for me

I’ve been standin’ here waitin’ Mister Postman
So patiently
For just a card, or just a letter
Sayin’ he’s returnin’ home to me

(Mister Postman)
Mister Postman, look and see
(Oh yeah)
If there’s a letter in your bag for me
(Please, Please Mister Postman)
Why’s it takin’ such a long time
(Oh yeah)
For me to hear from that boy of mine

So many days you passed me by
See the tears standin’ in my eyes
You didn’t stop to make me feel better
By leavin’ me a card or a letter

(Mister Postman)
Mister Postman, look and see
(Oh yeah)
If there’s a letter in your bag for me
(Please, Please Mister Postman)
Why’s it takin’ such a long time

(Why don’t you check it and see one more time for me, you gotta)
Wait a minute
Wait a minute
Wait a minute
Wait a minute
(Mister Postman)
Mister Postman, look and see

(C’mon deliver the letter, the sooner the better)
Mister Postman