When I was in the 5th or 6th grade, my favorite book was entitled, "P.S. Longer Letter Later." In the book, two best friends were separated when one of their families was forced to move to a different city. Having sworn to be BFF's (Best Friends Forever for all you older folks), they decided to become earnest pen pals. The book is filled with silly letters that any pre-teen girl would swoon over--boys, makeup, school, the cheerleading team and the latest fashions were all included. I must confess, I longed for a pen pal that I could write to. I'd stare at my stationary and would feel the deep hole of what was missing in my life: correspondence.
Of course, I probably would have given up after a few, choosing my N*Sync obsession and soccer tournaments over the feeling of being chained to a desk, hunched over a letter, trying to think of things to say.
But to be truthful, I walk down to the mailroom everyday and gaze into the clear plastic window of my metal-faced mail box and wish that it would instantly overflow with letters from different friends and family members, countries from the farthest sides of the world with beautiful stamps and big, black ink marking the price of postage. Like "I Dream of Jeannie," I slap my arms together and blink a few times to see if that will make them appear. Knowing my genie powers are somewhat out of practice and rusty, I'll craft a few notes to friends and lick the envelopes shut with speed. Clink, slip, clink--in they go, into the outgoing mail bin, and as I turn my back I cross my fingers and hope that in a few days, I'll see a reply.
Oh poor, poor me.
Sometimes I want to pitch my phone and my computer straight into the trash can, and this is why: because back in the days of snail mail, when it was one of the only ways to stay in communication with an individual, one would sit and carefully craft words and sentences with genuine meaning. The finished product is a jewel, a gem.
When I think about why I want to become a writer, I think of letters. Letters are a great way to start writing when writer's block is attacking your brain at full force. I'll think of someone I care about (Apree, Biddle, Jas, Momma) and then I'll pull out a blank sheet of good ol' college-ruled, and away I'll go. Each word is chosen carefully. The meaning has a purpose.
I'll sign off now, and leave you to it.
Love,
Anne
P.S. When you write, don't forget to put my full name above my school on the address.
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