A Refreshing Letter
Average people used to write beautiful personal letters ... seems this common skill (art) has been decimated by new media modes such as multitasked chatting and texting
This was written in very nice cursive script to her young-20’s college friend, post-college, with near-perfect spelling and grammar even! The letter is friendship-deepening — relatable, sincere, honest, caring, and fun. After many decades of one-way content (books, videos) and short-attention chats and texts, I found this old letter a very refreshing read and wonder if more use of well-written personal-friend letters liked this would be helpful for all our social connective-tissue.
(Initials used to anonymize the people.)
July 2, 1956
Dear G,
How ‘ya doin’? Not too bored with the old man yet?
When I got your letter last week I laughed at the place where you mentioned [our college city’s] sweltering heat. BB and I had been freezing all that morning. The weather was really beautiful last week — sunshine and cool breezes. Yesterday, though, it really turned hot and sticky again.
I also laughed when I found out you’re typing more stencils! Don’t you know when to quit?! We’ve got inventory about finished except for the snags. And then this morning I pulled the smart trick of knocking a whole drawer of cards on to the floor which consequently will have to be rechecked! I’m just as brainy as ever — even with a college degree!!
By the way, happy birthday — over a week late. Hope you had a real nice one.
I wasn’t at all sad at commencement, and only a little sad during worship before the choir concert. I wish you could have been here then.
— 2 —
I sure hated to tell everyone good-bye, though. Especially the Ambassadors, and H and B and some of those guys. (Oh, I felt a little bad about some of the girls leaving, too!) I haven’t even played through all of Z’s records yet, let alone sort them. Some of them are really good; and then there are some real jewels like “Caffeine and Nicotine”, and something by Gid Tanner and His Skillet Lickers.
The man situation hasn’t been too bad, so far. I was with PA after Commencement and a little bit the Wednesday night of camp meeting. Then he went home that Friday, but came back last Saturday to get his car and all his belonging, so I was with him Saturday night. He said he’d write, but I don’t know how he’ll feel about it in Pennsylvania!
You’ve heard me talk about PB, haven’t you? The guy that’s pestered me for dates ever since high school. Well, I finally broke down and went out with him last week. We went to a
— 3 —
concert at [the university] — a string trio that played Brahms and Mozart. Very good, too. I didn’t have a real bad time, but I’m still not interested in PB. He’s very intellectual — too much, almost — to the point where anything not intellectual is beneath him. I’m just not that intellectual! He was supposed to call me over the weekend, but he didn’t. Can’t understand it! Maybe he doesn’t like pony tails? (Too frivolous!)
Speaking of pony tails I’m going to call tomorrow and make an appointment to have my hair cut. I almost hate to do it now that I’ve gone to so much trouble growing a pony tail — but it’s terrible to take care of this way.
It’s the girl sitation around here that bothers me. The only good friends I have around here are married — which is okay except on weekends when their husbands are off work. I suppose there are a few single ones around, but I don’t feel I know them well enough to call them. J is gone on vacation, and will be most of
— 4 —
this month.
Daddy is much better now, and seems to be improving every day — after a fourth operation! He’ll be in the hospital for a while longer until he gains some weight and some strength back. But we’re really thankful, because there was a while when there just didn’t seem to be much hope.
I can’t think of any gossip to speak of. AB and CD announced their engagement. EF and GH are getting married the 14th. I went to a shower for her Sunday.
That’s all I know. Isn’t it terrible to be so ignorant of the local scandals? Work is as usual. Let’s see, you knew, didn’t you, that Miss J didn’t go to summer school after all. And so we have a boss! Such disappointments! It’s really not so bad, though — except for the heat!
Well, be good, gal! And write real soon.
Love, D