Mom and her sister in Sendai have kept a steady stream of correspondence in the 68 years that they've been apart.
We've taken mom to see her sister every time we've toured Japan. Here they are serving sukiyaki together.
Mom is very methodical in what she writes. She first writes notes on what she wishes to share, then reviews copies of previous letters she's written so she doesn't repeat herself. Then she'll sit for a couple of days writing a letter with very beautiful, elegant, rather flawless looking characters. It amazes me every time I see her tiny writing. It's got to be difficult with her limited vision.
I've told mom that I should just scan her letters and send them to Sendai by email. My cousins or uncle could then print them and give them to her sister. Seemed like a perfectly good idea to me because then Auntie could get them much faster instead of waiting about a week for the letter to arrive.
However, Auntie said she likes getting mail in the mailbox so would prefer the snail mail method instead.
Mom said she needed to write longer letters so it couldn't be done by email. I had to explain that she could write an encyclopedia (yes, I exaggerated) and I could scan it and send it with the computer without a problem.
Still... the other day mom needed a letter sent right away so I scanned it and emailed it to Sendai where it was printed and shown to Auntie. Hmmm... I wonder what she'll say. Will she like the speed or will she not like having an empty mailbox?
Mom is very methodical in what she writes. She first writes notes on what she wishes to share, then reviews copies of previous letters she's written so she doesn't repeat herself. Then she'll sit for a couple of days writing a letter with very beautiful, elegant, rather flawless looking characters. It amazes me every time I see her tiny writing. It's got to be difficult with her limited vision.
I've told mom that I should just scan her letters and send them to Sendai by email. My cousins or uncle could then print them and give them to her sister. Seemed like a perfectly good idea to me because then Auntie could get them much faster instead of waiting about a week for the letter to arrive.
Mom said she needed to write longer letters so it couldn't be done by email. I had to explain that she could write an encyclopedia (yes, I exaggerated) and I could scan it and send it with the computer without a problem.
Still... the other day mom needed a letter sent right away so I scanned it and emailed it to Sendai where it was printed and shown to Auntie. Hmmm... I wonder what she'll say. Will she like the speed or will she not like having an empty mailbox?
There's something special about snail mail, but I admit that I have started sending Christmas cards and wishes by email where possible.
ReplyDeleteI like snail mail for special things like holiday cards, thank you notes and such. Regular correspondence? Email. Or even text sometimes.
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon,
DeleteNice to meet you. Even some of my holiday cards are going out by email these days.
I don't think I've actually written a letter in decades. Email for me, but then again, I didn't grow up with a sister who likes to get snail mail. She much prefers email. Different story for your mom and Auntie. :-)
ReplyDeleteSnail mail is absolutely sweet ♥ So nice of your mom and her sis♥
ReplyDeletesummerdaisycottage.blogspot.com
So nice to meet you, Summer!
DeleteI always send Birthday cards in snail mail. Yahoo had a terrible problem yesterday. Thank goodness I don't use it!
ReplyDeleteLet us know. This is a sweet problem to ponder.
ReplyDeleteI hope your mother will continue mailing letters. Still it is a good alternative to email when time is of the essence. I wish I would take more time to write letters instead of email or text.
ReplyDeleteI love the speed of email, but I treasure and keep most snail mail letters and cards.
ReplyDeleteQuick correspondence = email. Nice correspondence (i.e. birthdays, get well wishes, just because notes) = snail mail. I send cards to my 2.5 yr old granddaughter with short notes. She doesn't have email and will one day but I hope I can keep up the tradition of sending her snail mail.
ReplyDeleteI would still send the snail mail, even your aunt has read the scanned/printed letter already.
ReplyDeleteI do love to receive snail mail. I get snail letters from my 86 years old friend V. I don't send snail however...too lazy
I do admit that I love getting snail also. I love opening the envelope and the anticipation of reading the message and seeing the handwriting.
DeleteI get the occasional greeting card via snail mail, but otherwise it's ads and bills. I think it's very sweet re your om and your aunt. :)
ReplyDeleteI love writing letters, and have done so since childhood.
ReplyDeleteShe makes copies of letters she has written?? I love thinking of her doing this.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting question. Hmm. I love how she will check to see that she has not repeated herself!
ReplyDeleteI think they could do both. Send the letters through the mail as they have been doing but perhaps if they have photos they want to share, then you could email those with a note attached. I love that your Mom writes such beautiful letters! Your Mom is the BEST! xx
ReplyDeleteOur parents lived in a different world and it's difficult to change.
ReplyDeleteThere are times when a handwritten letter or card is the right medium when the occasion and person call for it. Those are permanent and in them, the thought lives forever.
ReplyDeleteAn email is fleeting and convenient. Almost impersonal in how little effort it takes, and it lives in cyberspace along with trillions of other bits of information that we are bombarded with.
That being said, I email constantly, taking the easy way out. Perhaps missing the opportunity to leave a physical reminder of myself and my thoughts to special people in my life.
I love love love handwriting letters. I have one friend who does not own a computer. So I get to hand write a letter every week. Sometimes twice a week cuz I love to write letters. I miss those days of snail mail. Though I do love emails for the speed and ease.
ReplyDeleteMom's letters sound like treasures that deserve to be waited for, held in the hand, read slowly, and then kept in a box.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, Kay, you could scan them and save them in a file as a sort of diary.
I miss snail mail but am hooked with emails...
ReplyDeleteI hope they never discontinue snail mail.
ReplyDeleteJoined your blog.
My blog link: REFLECTIONS
Hello John,
DeleteThank you for your visit and comment. I always love meeting another blogger.
There is so much more thought that goes into snail mail. I do kind of miss it and it would be nice to see a friendly face in the mailbox.
ReplyDeleteThey probably feel more personal. If you are going to take the effort to mail it, some heart goes into the words
ReplyDeleteNowadays, I help my mom compose emails by using the 'hiragana/kanji' input mode. Do you use that too?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I have a big collection of Japan postage stamps ... I collect them because they are so colorful!!
I've never done that. I should learn how. However, I think my aunt likes seeing mom's handwriting. Gosh! I never thought to collect the Japanese stamps. Art used to collect American ones.
DeleteHmmm, that will be interesting to see the results. It would also allow you to keep the originals in your mom's hand writing.
ReplyDeleteI do like the idea that others have shared about scanning those letters just to preserve them, even if they di go by snail mail.
ReplyDeleteI know I do still like receiving real cards in the mail and not e-cards.
Your Mother is a marvel! I had a few family members and older friends I would write to in long hand but they are all gone now. Everything is written and sent by e-mail. I truly miss picking up handwritten letters in the mailbox. All we get these days are bumph mail and catalogs.
ReplyDeleteGracias por pasar por el blog tuve un error y se me borraron todos los comentarios que habia en algunas entradas que mal verdad.
ReplyDeleteSi sento si en alguna no te respondo por lo que ya te comentado.
Me gusta mucho el tuyo.
http://anna-historias.blogspot.com.es/2016/09/muerte.html?m=1
Buenos dias, Anna!
DeleteNice to meet you. Gracias for your visit and comment. I'm sorry you lost all your comments on your blog post. Have a wonderful week!