Saturday, January 12, 2013

FOLKSY MAILBOX AND LETTERS


Could not resist taking a photo of this folksy mailbox along a county road -- someone with an artful eye and a good sense of delight painted this box. I am sure the mail carrier enjoys placing mail in it rather than the dark all one color boxes. 

This reminds me about letter writing. Oh, I know it is almost out of fashion -- now that we use emails. Do you still write letters to relatives or friends?  Letters, to me, seem touchingly personal.

I was reminded of this  lately when I sat down and wrote a letter to an old friend in Michigan. She called me when she received it and told me she opened it by her road mailbox to read rather than wait to open it back at the house. She said it had been a long time since she had received a personal letter in the mail and that it made her day. Sometimes it's the little things that count.




24 comments:

  1. You have me thinking--I do have some things called stamps that have been looking for something to do.

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    1. Raining Iguanas -- You have a great sense of humor! thanks for the nice comment -- barbara

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  2. That mailbox seems hand painted with skill and delight. Love it. I write letters and thank you notes (old fashioned way) and I belong to an online group that writes "snail mail" letters, postcards and notes. I love getting these in my mailbox (which is just one more plain one in a wall of them in an apartment building - no room for personalization)

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    1. June -- Never heard of an online snail mail group. Would like to know more about this group (maybe a post?). I am always amazed at ideas that spring up online. I imagine you receive letters, postcards and notes from all over the US and maybe beyond. Interesting. thanks -- barbara

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  3. What a wonderful mailbox. Sorry to say I have been late about checking back here after the New Year. Wonderful images(your photos stick as images in my mind, meaning they set my mind to wondering. The writing you have offered us this year is delightfully to the point. Wish I had that focused ability. One half sister of mine still writes personal letters catching us up. They are such a joy to receive. Catching up I never have been one to make resolutions. But think it would be wonderful for "my Little Woman" and I to wonder your way for a visit this year. Maybe take a few photos and discover the folks we are on a porch or riverbank somewhere.

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    1. Grampy -- Nice to receive your comment. Wonderful that your half-sister has continued to belong to the snail mail folks. I, myself, need to write letters more often. Actually, once I get into the writing process I enjoy it. By getting the right paper,stamps and pen accumulated along with setting aside time to actually sit down and write my thoughts, I am in a zone. My house is still for sale -- let's wait and see how things play out as far as getting together. thanks -- barbara

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  4. I don't write letters anymore...hmmmm, but I do send cards.

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    1. turquoisemoon -- I think receiving cards would be very nice. I love to open my mail box and see a handwritten envelope peeking out among the ad papers and bills. Takes away from the sterility of receiving mail. thanks -- barbara

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  5. Love the mailbox. Yes, being old I have many elderly friends who don't use a computer, so I still have the satisfaction of writing 'real' letters.

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    1. Carole Anne -- I bet your old friends love hearing from you. It's a fast paced world we live in. Letter writing gives us time to slow down and enjoyment to those that receive a letter. thanks -- barbara

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  6. We get sweet thank you letters from our grandchildren and we thank our daughter in laws for that. It seems almost 'quaint' in the age of skype but it is very welcome. I write to those people that I know really enjoy opening the post to other than a bill. My journal is hand written. Do you write with your computer or your pen?

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    1. claggle -- so nice that your grandchildren write thank you notes and how thoughtful that you write to people that enjoy getting a letter in the mail. I, like you,keep a journal which I hand-write. My letters are also handwritten but like Vicki who comments below, my handwriting has become almost illegible because I am so out of practice from years of using my computer. thanks for stopping by -- barbara

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  7. I love the mailbox! I hope it sees lots of letters.

    Alas, I rarely write a real letter anymore but rely on emails. In fact, with constant computer use, my handwriting had gotten awful. I do write thank you notes -- which is how I know how bad said handwriting is.

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    1. Vicki -- My handwriting has reverted back to elementary school days because I don't use it often enough. Computers have taken over our correspondence and diminished out handwriting skills. Even so, I still get a few letters off in my handwriting. thanks for your comment -- barbara

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  8. Love the mailbox!!!

    I used to write letters a lot but like you, I've gotten lazy!

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    1. Kay -- nice to hear from you after your campaign work. I have noticed more and more people expressing themselves, in different ways, on their mailboxes. thanks -- barbara

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  9. I do still write and mail letters. I type the letters but I hand write cards. And I send a lot of cards. Quick and easy way to make someone feel special.

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    1. NCmountainwoman -- I'm always on the lookout for either great cards or even postcards. I keep a backup of these for times when I feel like just sitting down and writing off a short note. I do agree with you that cards can make someone feel special. -- thanks -- barbara

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  10. That mail box would have caught my eye too. I am fortunate to have a dear older lady from the church I use to attend who writes me the most wonderful letters. I have noticed that people rarely ever send cards anymore and if they do they do not add a letter in it. :(

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    1. Dee -- I have noticed that too. Emails are great but they seem rather distant to express ourselves in the same way letters did. I have a collection of letters from the early 1900s between a mother and daughter. They are long, thoughtful and detailed. I think this is the kind of writing that we don't see in emails. And a letter is a document that folks tend to save over a long period of time. thanks -- barbara

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  11. I too like a real letter. But so rare now days...

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  12. troutbirder -- Real letters have preserved many thoughts, dreams, etc. for historians, and anthropologists and others interested in our past. I believe you are a historian (?) from reading some of your posts. I wondered, as I read your post on your German family and their settling in the US, if they had passed down letters that survive today. -- barbara

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  13. Nice. Love writing letters and I still do. Mail them to folks.

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    1. sparkle -- I think it is a grand tradition and so well appreciated by the receiver. -- thanks -- barbara

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