I love writing letters on sweet smelling paper. I keep all the birthday cards people send. When I’m in love, I write real love notes. I adore creating greeting cards for holidays—and hand addressing (yes, I said that) envelopes and affixing pretty stamps.
I muse about the days I received more than bills and cell phone upgrade ads in the mailbox. In fact, once upon a time, opening the mailbox was like Christmas---there might be a brightly colored envelope containing an actual invitation, or maybe even a real thank-you note---oh my---those were the days. All that wonder has been replaced by Blackberry’s and IPhone’s; Evites and Text Messages.
We have become so tech savvy -–but---have we become better communicators?? What does one think when the long revered Book is considered yesterday, being upstaged by an electronic hand-held device. When did turning a page become so time consuming and out of fashion? Yes, Yes, technology is a wonderful thing, and being able to watch your friends wedding in New York on a hand-held device while sunning yourself on a beach in Maui is quite a feat. But so is having coffee with a friend face-to-face and telling them how much you appreciate them. We have forgotten the need for balance between the cyber world and the real one where the people actually exist. Has Face Book made us better friends-- better brothers, or sisters? Did you know that hurtful words are no less hurtful when you whisper them, shout them, or send them to me on a 2-inch screen? Are you more productive, happier or smarter because you can cyber communicate in shorthand and send an electronic bouquet of flowers to your mother?
I’m not a highly evolved tech creature—and that’s actually okay with me. I’m not on Face Book. My cell phone doesn’t have a camera, and tweeting is what happens when the song birds nesting outside my bedroom window wake up in the morning.
So here’s a salute to thoughtful, handwritten thank-you notes; real conversations on the phone when you actually do laugh out loud---here’s a high five to those who press real roses in real books to remember special occasions. And last but certainly not least, I offer a standing ovation to those who remember when BFF was burger and french fries---your order taken at the local diner when you had real lunch with a real friend and had real conversation.
Alas, I am a relic, and proud of it---
