25 Aug
2009
When was the last time you received a hand-written letter? I mean the kind that is written on white paper, folded, put in an envelope and mailed to you by regular mail. The last time I received a letter in the mail was about 10 years ago. It was from my dad and I still have it. I’ve saved a handful of the letters I’ve received over the years. I have the one from my father-in-law that came just after my husband proposed to me, welcoming me into the Desmarais family. I have the one from my dad, going over some of the wedding arrangements and telling me he and Mom wanted to send us on a “really nice honeymoon”.
My mom was visiting recently and while she was here we had a visit from my cousin and her husband. My cousin’s dad and my dad were brothers. We got into a conversation about letters. She told us that she has kept every letter she’s ever received! For the last couple of months she’s been transcibing letters from her mother that go back to the 60′s. She brought a couple of them for us to read. The letters mentioned people we knew who have long gone. Like all letters, the best parts were the incidental details she included. My aunt died in the early 70′s so having a permanent record of her hand-writing and the words she wrote is gold.
A couple of weeks ago I received this email:
I thought you and your readers would enjoy our website, which amounts to a “Mommy Blog” and cookbook from the early 1930s. We have letters, photos, recipes etc. the family sent to each other during 2 years they were separated during the Great Depression. My mother was 9, my uncle was 7. It includes some lighthearted fun, challenges, and a LOT of creativity in the kid’s messages and activities (presented with their “original” spelling, grammar etc.)
It’s a glimpse into the lives of real parents and children living an adventure under extraordinary conditions.
I hope you enjoy!
Lucy Jeanne (Ruth Linsley Forman’s daughter)
Lucy Jeanne
Director of Public Relations
509-276-6220
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