Letter Writing and myLot

@much2say (55608)
Los Angeles, California
January 21, 2024 11:16am CST
Seeing my older cousin recently, I had forgotten that my love for letter writing began in my childhood with her. I don't remember what we wrote about, but it was quite exciting to receive an envelope addressed to me in the mailbox, ripping it open, and reading my cousin's handwritten news. I enjoyed writing back to her. Oh what patience we must've had in waiting for the whole process to happen again - often weeks! This love for communication in writing and "interacting" may have been the start of my journey that eventually led me to myLot . Did you or do you still like to write letters? Maybe for most of us these days, it's more about emails, texts and social media interaction .
21 people like this
19 responses
@kaylachan (69732)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jan
While I am not that huge on social media, I do prefer text messages over phone calls. E-mail over hand written letters. I like formats I can read, vs ones I can't.
3 people like this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan
@kaylachan Ah, screen reading . . . do you also do the voice to text (not sure what that's officially called)?
2 people like this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan
I can understand that. At least with technology, any format can be enlarged for easier reading . . . and of course the type is clear whereas handwritten things may need some deciphering.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (69732)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 Jan
@much2say That's true. Not everyone needs larger print. Even enlarged I wouldn't be able to see it, so screen reading is my go-to.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112879)
• El Paso, Texas
21 Jan
I've never really written anyone before the internet came around but I do enjoy texting and emailing. I still have trouble thinking of stuff to write about but it's a lot easier in the cyber world than on paper.
3 people like this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan
At least with technology, we can change or correct stuff in a snap . . . gosh, not so easily done with pen and paper. It's definitely faster and cheaper to do communicate the way we do these days. We'd go nuts if myLot existed and functioned only over snail mail .
2 people like this
@rebelann (112879)
• El Paso, Texas
22 Jan
I wonder if the idea of mylot came about due to pen pals. I can't imagine giving everyone on mylot my mailing address.
2 people like this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan
@rebelann It's kinda very much so like pen palling, right? We get to know folks from around the world and exchange words - without the cost of a postage stamp and much faster. And no personal info like mailing addresses necessary. I used to have A LOT of pen pals . . . back then I didn't even think about "safety/security" like we do now.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (92748)
• United States
21 Jan
I used to be quite a letter writer as a child and early teen, but I think you must have made an art of it, and I most definitely didn’t reach that level. When I send a card for a birthday, and sometimes even for Christmas, I try to make it letter worthy. I want to send something worth reading, and not just a cursory glance. We need more people who appreciate letters.
3 people like this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan
I do fondly remember these letter writing experiences. Oh you bet I had the whole array of stationery, stickers, folding techniques, etc. Oh and writing to college classmates was great fun because we actually did include crazy drawings and "art". Your cards must be so special! I have a couple friends who will still write wonderful messages in their cards. My handwriting has gotten horrendous over the years from not writing . . . I could barely even sign a nice signature anymore - so I admit that those messages from me are short.
2 people like this
• China
22 Jan
Writing letter seems a distant memory.Now we have Wechat,we can communite with friends at any time if we like.however I still miss writing my classmates letters in which I weighed every word and even frequently practised penmanship for it.
3 people like this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan
I remember writing notes to my classmates was great fun. It also passed the time at school (I would write to my friends when I was very bored ). You are right that it helped us with our penmanship. When I was working, my friend at another company and I would fax each other letters in Japanese . . . this way our bosses could not understand what we wrote .
2 people like this
• China
23 Jan
@much2say Funny thing!Your boss had nothing to do but stared at those letters in Japanese with suspicion.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471541)
• Switzerland
22 Jan
I also loved to write to my cousin and to receive news from her. I do not write letters anymore, but I send emails.
3 people like this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan
It's nice to have had those experiences . . . I wish more people would still write such letters. Even though technology makes it quicker and cheaper, I still say there's nothing like receiving a paper note through snail mail.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471541)
• Switzerland
23 Jan
@much2say - Snail mail here is incredibly expensive, this is the first year that even the Bank sent the Christmas greetings by email.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Jan
My cousin and I used to send letters back and forth for many years. I also had a pen pal during my teenage years which was lots of fun. These days I don't write any letters anymore and have fallen into the ease of texting, etc. Guess it has its advantages and disadvantages
3 people like this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Jan
I love hearing how others had similar letter writing experiences! Oh yes, pen pals were a lot of fun too. I was a mail artist in my 20s . . . so much excitement through the mailbox! Texting has made it all much easier and faster, but I sure miss all the nuances from letter writing and reading. Letters always felt special - to me texts are just "texts".
3 people like this
• United States
24 Jan
@much2say I also miss the excitement of having the mail arrive
1 person likes this
@shaggin (72135)
• United States
21 Jan
I didn’t write letters that I mailed but I wrote them and we gave them to each other at school. Yours sounds more special.
2 people like this
@shaggin (72135)
• United States
23 Jan
@much2say yes I learned a few fun ways to fold the notes too
1 person likes this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan
I loved writing letters/notes to friends in school too! I would write them when I was so bored in class - ha ha. We had special ways to fold them too. I loved writing and receiving snail mail letters . . . I think it taught us about patience too.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (180753)
• United States
21 Jan
I have written very few letters in my life. I don't have good handwriting for one thing, and I don't want someone to guess about what I was trying to say.
2 people like this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan
I used to have pretty good handwriting, but these days since I'm out of practice it's rather sloppy. Sometimes reading handwriting does require some deciphering.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (166976)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Jan
My BFF and I used to write back and forth. It was fun to be expecting letters. I still like to write just others don't.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (166976)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Jan
@much2say ........Yes, it was. Those days are gone now.
1 person likes this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan
Yes, wasn't that great fun? I would like to write actual letters, but I don't know that anyone in my circle would actually respond (I'd probably get an email or most likely a text reply).
2 people like this
@allknowing (136446)
• India
22 Jan
A good friend of mine who I lost last year always sent me postcards with her handwriting She would have been 100 years old today I have kept those postcards as a memory
2 people like this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan
I am so sorry for your loss. Your friend lived a long life - how wonderful you have her precious writing and memories from her post cards.
2 people like this
@sjvg1976 (41281)
• Delhi, India
22 Jan
Yes I had that hobby writing letters to the friends and relatives but with the introduction of mobile apps now I don't see people writing letters to each other.
2 people like this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan
I know, it seems the art of letter writing has gone out the door. With technology, communication is easier and faster, but somehow it doesn't seem as "special".
2 people like this
@sjvg1976 (41281)
• Delhi, India
23 Jan
@much2say Yae my kids don't even know what is letter. They are just taught in the school about letter writing.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50256)
• United States
21 Jan
I loved writing and receiving letters. I had a pen pal at one time.
2 people like this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan
Ohhh, I loved the whole pen pal thing too. I think I had my first pen pal in 2nd grade.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50256)
• United States
22 Jan
@much2say I was around that age too when I had mine.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan
I loved writing letters and wrote many in the days before emails, etc. I'd still enjoy writing them but really have no-one to write to. You've made me think - I wrote to my Mum nearly every week from when I married in 1971 till emails became common.
2 people like this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan
That is pretty much my problem too . . . no one seems to want "write" anymore . . . it's all about communicating with technology these days. How wonderful to exchange letters with your Mum .
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jan
@much2say And with emails and texting the expectation seems to be to get an immediate answer which bugs me sometimes.
1 person likes this
• Nairobi, Kenya
21 Jan
Yes. I love letter writing. The last time I wrote a letter was last year to my sister.
2 people like this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan
Oh, well it's nice that you do still write letters! I write emails all the time, but hardly any real handwritten letters.
2 people like this
• Nairobi, Kenya
23 Jan
@much2say I like making handwritten letters. It's one way of being creative. I rarely write emails unless I'm applying for a job.
1 person likes this
• United States
10 Apr
I don't remember the last time I written a letter, but I still have many handwritten letters left at my parents' house (in my old room). I occasionally write holiday cards (if that)... I hardly write anything except in my weekly little calendar journal. The rest is on the computer or phone notes.
1 person likes this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
14 Apr
I used to have a big locked desk drawer and box in my old room with all my old letters too. At some point in my 30s I think, I just had to get rid of it all. I guess I just write grocery lists or sign papers from my kids' schools (even my signature looks bad these days ).
1 person likes this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
17 Apr
@infatuatedbby Omg did you fold letters/notes a certain way too ? Ha ha - yah - we needed our privacy - I would die if anyone read them Yep - that's the way it went with my friends too - we've all moved on to our separate lives. It's texting, Discord, and who knows what else . . . it's too bad my kids are not of the letter writing generation (I tried!). I know you are tech savvy .
• United States
14 Apr
@much2say Wow you locked the letters too I put my letters in boxes and folded it back to the shape they were in and hope my parents' never read sometimes I wrote if they made me mad or write about my crush Hahaha. I narrowed it down to just 1 box but I don't even talk to those "friends" anymore. but we're still friends on social media just went separate ways. Do your kids write letters to their friends? Now a days it must just be text messages and chat? I hardly write on paper.. just a to do list as well
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (89882)
• Arvada, Colorado
27 Jan
I do no longer write letters..sad really. I used to write air mail to overseas relatives. I miss that. So glad you wound up on myLot too.
1 person likes this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Feb
I miss letter writing too . . . I feel like mailboxes are filled with less personal mail these days. But we do have myLot . . . glad we met here .
1 person likes this
• Arvada, Colorado
1 Feb
@much2say Me too to say the least
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (139717)
• Roseburg, Oregon
24 Jan
I used to write to my four grandparents when I was a kid and they always wrote back.
@thelme55 (77082)
• Germany
29 Feb
Writing letters was my hobby before. I can relate to that excitement. Through writing letters, I met my husband.
1 person likes this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Mar
Awwww, that is so sweet ! Were you like pen pals? That sounds so romantic!!!
1 person likes this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Mar
@thelme55 I had world wide pen pals for a while too - that was so much fun. That is so neat your met your husband through pen pal-ing . . . your first meeting in person must've been amazing!!!
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (77082)
• Germany
5 Mar
@much2say Yes, we were penpals before. I had a lot of pen pals all over the world when I was a teenager.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178701)
• United States
22 Jan
I send cards; but I no longer send letters. I used to write a ton when I was younger. Now I rely on emails and Facebook. Have a good week.
1 person likes this
@much2say (55608)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan
I love cards, but people don't seem to be exchanging those as much either since now we have "e-cards" and such. I used to write WAY more in my younger days too. Emails are definitely faster and cheaper . . . and Facebook changed all that even more. Thank you - hope you are having a great start to your week!
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (178701)
• United States
23 Jan
@much2say Thank you very much.
1 person likes this