Welcome to the Christmas Cards I Write

I am, however, not dreaming of a white Christmas. I hope any and all snows stays far, far away from the Old Dominion for the next two weeks.

I freely admit that I love letter writing and having pen pals. I’ve had a few over the years and currently maintain regular corespondents with three people. It’s fun to read up on what people are doing with their lives, how things change, and (most important) what they are reading.

As the holidays draw close, though, I compile a list of family I am unlikely to see and some close friends (whom I have addresses for) to send Holiday cards to. Many of them are Christmas themed, but some of the recipients don’t celebrate that Christmas, so I try to include more winter themes.

This year I decided to punish challenge myself by hand painting all of the cards I sent out. The last batch will hopefully go out tomorrow. Normally, I buy cards (after the holidays so there’s a discount) and include a painting that I created over the year as a small gift. Since I started doing this, a few of my cousins felt that the paintings themselves should be the cards.

Well, I wasn’t all that thrilled by my miniature paintings this year. They weren’t festive enough for this time of year. Or I didn’t think they were good enough to send to other people. Or I liked them too much (that happens sometimes).

So I got out the paints, bought a bunch of envelops, and set to work.

It’s been a relaxing way to spend the run up to the final holidays of the year. I’ve even gotten a few cards in return.

Though card and letter writing has mostly fallen out of fashion, I find it a small treat to open my mailbox and find something from a friend rather than more advertisements. There’s some thing relaxing and intimate when it comes to writing letters of any kind - which is why I still enjoy writing my Holiday cards.

It’s one way to remind someone that you’re thinking of them.

Do you enjoy writing letters or sending out Holiday cards? What about receiving them? Have you ever had a pen pal? Do you still keep in touch with them?

It’s the season for togetherness and sometimes the only way to do that is through a small note or card wishing someone a happy new year.

See y’all in 2023. It’s only two Sundays away.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope y’all like hearing from me.

Welcome to the Perks of Pen Pals

The post office and it’s services are important guys.

Not only does it send you bills, junk mail, and coupons, but it is a reliable way for the government to communicate with people (the won’t call or email you), have your medication delivered, and send Christmas cards to all the people you forget about the rest of the year.

The post office was even used in a movie to prove that Santa Clause exists (see the 1947 Miricle on 34th Street - not the 1994 version).

My favorite thing about the post office is that it has allowed me to keep in tough with friends and family I might not otherwise have similar conversations with. I currently have three pen pals whom I regularly send and receive letters. I have one pen pal in particular who loves getting creative with her letter writing. She’s sent me letters in the form of puzzles, on envelops stuffed into one another (something she created), and on beautiful calligraphy paper.

Other things my pen pals have sent me included: short stories, art, poems, Christmas ornaments, a mini journal, and art kits.

It’s a fun hobby I’ve been actively doing since I was in college.

A very small sample of the letters I’ve received over the years

I started writing letters to a high school friend. Well, my friend started sending me letters and I adored the cards she sent and wanted to send her something in return. I haven’t written to that friend as much since leaving school, but I’ve found other friends and family members to share letters with.

Why do I prefer to send letters than email or  text or instant messaging (insert favorite social media app here)?

The answer is a little silly, but I feel really good getting a letter versus the other (faster) forms of communication. It’s almost like getting a present on my birthday. I’ll open up my mailbox and see a small, usually brightly colored envelope and a smile will spread across my face...even if it’s been a terrible day. Getting a letter in the mail makes me feel special.

It takes time to write a letter. A lot of thought goes into the limited amount of space I have to share with my pen pal. Sometimes I’m answering questions, other times I’m curious about something that was written. Often I include the latest book I’m reading and whether or not I like. Occasionally, I’ll go into ideas about future plans.

Picking out which card to send can be just as exciting as the letter writing part. If I’ve been traveling, I’ll pick up a card or two to use and mention some highlights from the trip. Sometimes I find a fun stationary set that I use for months on end. Lately, I’ve been using blank brightly colored cards and drawing on the front. The drawings don’t typically mean anything - though sometimes I’ll include a reason or source of inspiration.

It’s rare that I include anything additional (like the mini journal or other presents I’ve been sent), though other people have sent me things. However, I’ve started doing these mini Polaroid paintings and have started mailing them to my pen pals. Many of these paintings symbolize where I wish I had traveled during the time of COVID-19.

I also hold onto the letters I receive. Sometimes, when I’ve hard a rough day, I go through my collection of letters and start to feel a little better. They’re an uplifting remind that I am connected to other people.

This type of communication just isn’t the same as any other. Sure I might get sent a link to art or receive a lovely note in Facebook’s Messenger, but sometimes I want to have the physical feeling of holding something someone else had. Without letters, I miss out on the little quirks people have developed in their hand writing or the cool stamps (as well as the art) people pick out.

No sharing personal info or messages on a public blog guys.

I know it’s out of fashion and can cost money, but why not try letter writing for your next hobby? You might find that it’s a Major mood lifter.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope y’all like hearing from me.

I may or may not update next week...since it’s a holiday.

Welcome to Speeches, Pamphlets, Essays, and Letters

Not every writer is someone who writes fictitious stories. Some writers are known for writing persuasive pieces meant to convey information and draw attention. These pieces can take a few forms, but the ones I’d like to write about today are the essays, pamphlets, letters, and speeches.

The importance (and occasional cross pollination) of these literary works has shaped history. We first learn about these writings in American history with the knowledge of Thomas Paine’s little pamphlet called “Common Sense” - which you can occasionally see re-enacted as a spoken as a speech in Colonial Williamsburg. I learned to write persuasive essays starting in middle school. In high school I studied Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg speech (the famous speech starts with the line “Four score and seven years...”) and Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have A Dream” speech.

These types of writing may not seem as glamorous as writing a novel or play, but they are important.

There are some people who are amazing speakers, but can’t put a thought to paper to save their political campaigns. Many politicians employ a speech writer to put their passionate thoughts together and create a clear and concise platform (whether or not that person sticks to the script varies greatly).

In some instances, speeches by the same speaker or author are compiled into a book. I personally own a book of speeches written and spoken by Greta Thunberg called No One Is Too Small To Make a Difference. It's really cool to see how her writing has changed since she started speaking on climate change.

Pamphlets are not as well known or utilized in our modern era of persuasive arguments. They are unbound books that can be easily carried and shared. Historically, pamphlets were also read allowed or performed similar to a speech - see Thomas Paine again for more details.

In modern days, pamphlets occasionally appear, though usually as some form of marketing campaign. However, they have mostly morphed into online forums and discussion board. While their shorter literary cousin, the essay, continues to be taught in America public schools.

Essays aren't necessarily meant to be read out loud to a crowd and they are often short enough to be combined with several other essays to be turned into a full book. Examples of essays can be found in  Kurt Vonnegut's standalone work: “How to Write with Style", while Roxane Gay's “Bad Feminist” is a collection of essays bound together in a book.

Finally, I want to address to you (pun fully intended) the lowly letter. I love receiving letters from my friends and family in the mail - breaks up the monotony of bills and junk - but there is a bit of an art to letter writing. Letters don't even have to be pen to paper in style, they can be sent via email, printed in a news paper, or left on a social media site as an open letter meant for anyone to read.

Oh, and one of the most famous letters ever written in US history is on display at the National Archives in Washington D.C. That letter is the Declaration of Independence.

Yeah, we wrote a letter telling England to buzz off.

In fact, writing letters to politicians and the government continues to occur even after that little declaration sent King George. I've written to politicians before (usually via email) to make certain that my voice is heard and part of the public record. You can also follow up your letter with a phone call (or vise versa). And they have to listen to you if you cal them on the phone - I had to when I was an Intern for a Representative (one guy liked to call the representative just to sing and we weren't allowed to interrupt him until he was finished). This may have changed (unlikely), but if you want your voice heard and recorded, send a letter.

Especially now that so much is going on between COVID-19 and protests occurring this past week. Because of the virus, some people may not be able to safely protest, but still want to participate and share their grievances with their elected officials. For example, sending your local, state, and federal elected officials a letter asking them to outlaw No Knock Warrants might draw attention to how they have been used to unjustly harm or kill innocent people (such as Breonna Taylor) or demanding that funds be used to investigate complaints against officers who use excessive violence when detaining a suspect.

Not everything a writer writes is fiction. Sometimes it's a persuasive argument drawing attention or campaigning for change. Speeches, pamphlets, essays, and letters all have their place in the literary world and to change the physical world.

Thank you for reading my blog post (or should I call it an essay?) this week. I hope you are all able to stay safe during these trying times.

Until next week.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope you guys like hearing from me.