Letters From The Heart

Even though I said this blog was not just going to be about shopping, of course my first post is exactly about that in a way in at way. To get to the point of this story I have to start somewhere, and it all begins with an innocent trip to my favorite place: Target.

I went there for the sole purpose of buying eye make-up remover, but found myself browsing the electronics department, the toy aisles, the grocery side, and ended up somehow in the card section. What brought me there was the sudden realization that my husband and I were going to be hosting a small gathering of friends in the next few weeks and I needed to send out invitations. A friend of mine had just gotten engaged, and she and her fiance were coming to town and so I had decided that it would be a perfect opportunity to get a few of our old friends together for a little party in honor of them. And it's the perfect excuse to send out invites and have people over.

As I walked up and down the aisle looking at all the invitations, and thank you notes, and stationary I thought to myself how lovely it all was. So many different designs. So many fun colors. I just started adding random things to my cart. I never know when I'm going to need thank you cards, and since these are so cute, I'll just get them now. I couldn't decide on which invite to get. Too many to choose from and too cute to just narrow it down to one, so again several were added to my cart. I decided that we don't have nearly enough parties at our home. We should do that more often, and when we do, I'll need these invites.

My attention turned toward the stationary. Again, so many fun designs, complete with cute little matching envelopes to seal up your letters and send them off to that special someone who you are writting to. And then it hit me; When was the last time I actually wrote a letter?

I don't mean a thank you note, or an email. An actual letter, to someone, on a piece of paper, in an envelope, signed, sealed and stamped. I honestly couldn't remember. I mean, I've wrote letters at work on company letter head to a vendor cancelling service, or requesting changes to a contract, but that doesn't count.

I used to write all kinds of "letters" in high school to pass to my friends in the hall in passing. Does that count? Some of those notes were pages long...some took all day to write. But that's been over ten years ago, and most were not that meaningful.

My friend Gina loves to write letters. She is the type of person that not only writes you a lovely little note in every card she gives you, but she also loves to just sit down at her desk and write an honest to goodness letter to a friend. A friend that might live a block away. She could just as easily pick up the phone and give this person a call. She'll probably even see this person before the letter actually ends up in their mailbox, but that doesn't matter to her. She honestly believes that people enjoy opening their mail boxes and seeing a lovely letter addressed to them. And maybe she's right.

I had a pen pal when I was in grade school. A girl named Nicki that I met one year at summer camp. I was maybe twelve. She lived in Columbus, and we became pen pals. I honestly don't know how long we kept in touch. I don't think it was much longer then the end of that summer, but I always looked forward to getting her letter in the mail. I'd check for it every day. It was an obsession. We didn't have email then. I couldn't make long distance phone calls. All I had to look forward to was a letter from my friend to see how she was doing; to hear about what was going on in her life. I dont' think I've carried on a reletionship with anyone via mail since. And that actually makes me quite sad.

As a sit here staring at all the new stationary I bought, mezmerized by the fun colors and cute little designs, I wonder who can I write a letter to. Would someone find it odd to open their mailbox and see a letter from me? Just a random letter asking them how they are and what's going on in their life. Will they wonder "Why didn't she just pick up the phone? Or send me an email?" Will they think it's weird? A letter from the heart from me. Who would appreciate such a thing?

And of course the most obvious person comes to mind. Someone who would not find it odd at all. Someone who will truely appreciate it and not think twice about it. Who no doubt will actually cherish the letter and write one in return; Gina.