A little over a year ago I watched The Young Victoria for the first time and fell in love with the film. I just watched it again last night and couldn't help but be struck by the romance of letter-writing. Because Victoria and Albert were living in two different countries during what I suppose would be considered their courtship, and they lived well before the age of email, facebook, and texting, they kept up their correspondence through letters. The film does a beautiful job of capturing the anticipation and joy of letters. Waiting for the envelope containing news and greetings, running to check the mail, snatching ones with your name on the front in a familiar script...it's all just so delightful.
I adore getting and sending snail mail. I know that it is probably the least efficient means of communication in this day and age. I realize that by the time whoever I am writing to actually reading the letter it is probably old news. But regardless of this there is nothing like getting a letter or card in the mail. Knowing that the person took the time to sit down and craft a note, or a novel-length epistle, to you adds a whole new layer of meaning to a letter that simply doesn't exist with email or facebook. Writing a letter requires a prolonged consideration of the other person. You can fire off an email in less than half an hour, even if it's long, but a letter takes time. You have to select paper and pen. You have to carefully arrange and phrase your anecdotes and thoughts. And then, after you have taken the time to actually write the letter, you have to remember to take it with you and find a mail box and actually send it.
There really isn't anything like a good hand-written letter.
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