When's the last time you wrote a letter? An actual letter, on paper, tucked into an envelope and sealed up with a stamp on the front. A few weeks ago I asked myself that very same question and the answer was, "I can't remember." So I asked my friend Julie, one of those amazing creatures who is genuinely connected to a universe of brave & creative people, "I wonder if there's anybody out there that's helping people get re-connected to the lost art of letter writing?" (I did this via Facebook mind you, which is mildly ironic to me.) And she responded with a simple but an enthusiastic "Yes!" and provided a link to the Letter Writers Alliance, which in a kismet kind of way, just so happens to be based right here in Chicago.
I checked out their blog, loved it, felt very inspired and had a very impetuous idea. For my birthday, rather than going out to dinner with a few of my friends, like I have for years now, why not have a Letter Writing Party? With paper, pens, stamps and envelopes? An evening where we could just have the time to write a letter or two. I sent an email to Donovan Beeson, one of the co-founders of LWA and asked if such a thing would be possible. If she could help me make it happen. In less than 10 days notice. At my house even though she didn't know me from Adam? Well, lovers of letters must be kind and can-do people because she replied promptly and said in so many words, "Yes!"
And so the other night six of my friends came over and found in my dining room four gorgeous vintage typewriters that Donovan had brought for the occasion. And oodles of stamps both old and new, also courtesy of the lovely Donovan. And cool paper, rubber stamps, Japanese tape and whatever ephemera she and I could collectively cobble together. And we wrote letters.
You should have heard the typewriters -- what a sound they produce, it's so specific and beautiful. And the stamps, oh, such tiny works of art. I think I'm going to have to become a philatelist. But what I loved most was how intent each person was when they were writing their letters. How they wanted to keep doing it. We started at 7 pm and I thought for sure everyone would clear out at around 9 -ish with work and life happening the next morning. At 11 pm a few people were still going at it.
I wrote two letters, one to my father and one to my host mother in Australia. Both of them (and my mother as well) were instrumental in developing my love of letters and helped me see how much joy and information a simple letter can bring.
LWA sponsors occasional and free letter writing events around town at places like Renegade Handmade and Greer. Do go and have fun with the typewriters. (They have one that only writes in cursive. It is So Cool, I am coveting it very much.) You can also become a card-carrying LWA member and you'll get a nifty button. Or you can just grab a piece of paper and go sit and write someone you care for a simple, kind letter and put it in the mail. And here's the kicker -- if you send someone a letter, you might just get one in return. Pretty amazing things, these letters.
ps My pal Suzie has a post on the Binth blog with her take on the evening and much nicer pictures!
pps Donovan lent me this book before the party and I found it quite inspiring.
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