Dearest ___________,

I received my first letter from Kelsey the other day and I loved everything about it. I loved that I got something in the mail that had nothing to do with student loans or medical bills. I loved that she stamped it with "Special Delivery for..." I loved that she wrote on the back of the envelope "From California to Vermont #1," I loved everything she wrote, and I love that I can write her back!
I love writing letters in general. In my busy, crazy life where my awake hours are all over the place (because I'm staying up all night with the twins), and my friends live all over the world, letters seem to be the easiest way to communicate. The funny thing is, I just figured this out.
It took weeks of phone tag, quick text messages, one line hellos on facebook, and me bursting at the seams to be able to catch a time to talk to my friends, for me to finally sit down and write it all out. And ever since, I have actually been happier.
It started with Panda when I took my five weeks off of facebook. Getting a hold of her was brutal. She was either in class or working diligently on her thesis, or I was at work or sleeping. It had been so long since we had spoken to each other and I just needed to communicate with her. Do you ever feel that way? Do you feel an intense pull to know that your best friend understands what you are going through, and to know what is going on with her? So finally, I e-mailed her.
It's funny what comes out in an email. We ended up telling each other more than we ever would in a phone call. We delved a little deeper than normal and just wrote out everything we were feeling. We've been emailing for a couple weeks now. Not every day, but when we get the chance. It feels so good to hear from her, and every time I finish a letter to her, I feel a great sense of relief. 
Although talking face to face, or even on the phone, is something wonderful, I think that writing letters is a beautiful form of communication. You are able to say exactly what you want to say. You can take the time to think over your words. Another example of letters being better is Penn. After his phone call the other night, he wrote me an email. I think it was because he knows of my utter infatuation with Jane Austen, I have mentioned how romantic everyone was back then, communicating solely with letters.
He also wrote because it was easier than stumbling over his words on the phone. He was nervous about what he had to say, and this way he could take his time in saying it. The result was something beautiful.
I am so happy I have rediscovered letter writing, and hope that you, too, decide to pick it up. You'll be surprised by how much it can change you.

Do you write letters? Do you have a pen pal? Tell me all about it!
Do you want to e-mail me? You absolutely can! anniedrinkwine@gmail.com
I promise to write back!

Pen Pals!

#25 of my Before 30 list is to start a "snail mail" correspondence. It is something that I have attempted to do many times in the past but it never seemed to work out.

I think I had a pen pal when I was twelve. He was from a different country, but for the life of me I cannot remember where. It was something set up in my school, my class was writing to a class in -Mexico?- We wrote two letters. The last batch of letters got lost in the mail, and then I think my teachers just gave up on it. 

I remember sending a picture of myself. I told him my favorite past time (playing in my woods and skating...) and my favorite food and about my enormous family because that is a favorite subject of mine. Mainly because I have the coolest brothers in the world. And sisters, but the sisters were itty then, so there wasn't much to tell about them. "Boo learned how to say fork today, we are so proud." Before the letters stopped I day dreamed that this boy would end up being my future husband, and what a story we would have. Even at twelve I dreamt  of marriage. 

The year after high school one of my friend's and I decided to stay in touch via letters, but it became difficult because we both changed addresses too many times and Facebook just seemed easier. Then when I was living in Copenhagen I tried again, but the postal system was too difficult for me (or maybe I was just too lazy to figure it out) (and buying stamps scared me because I had to use my terrible Danish). 

But I absolutely love getting things in the mail! Except for lately I have been getting only bank statements and bills - awesome. I love getting fun things that are filled with happiness, something little to brighten a day. That may be the lamest sentence ever, but it is exactly what I think letters are. Happiness. 

The other day I got a tweet from the wonderful Kelsey at Harbor Cottage asking if I wanted help accomplishing number 25. I jumped at the chance. So we exchanged mailing addresses and today, I wrote the first letter.

Except, hold up, how do you write a good letter to someone you don't really know? I have to admit I think I sounded like the twelve year old that first had a pen pal. I was overly giddy, all over the place. Just throwing out facts and ideas and observations about the most random things. Poor Kelsey. Also, poor Kelsey because my handwriting is not very pretty. Sorry! 

About a page and a half in I had no idea what to write anymore but realized I hadn't really written anything of substance. So I googled "how to write to a pen pal" because I am super cool like that. Ehow.com can tell me how! It gave a list of things you "need" which included an etiquette book. I started to freak that I didn't have an etiquette book, I began to google it, but realized that I was not going to actually get one, or read one, so I just hoped that I had the proper etiquette I needed to write a letter. What would that be? Maybe I should google it. 

Then it bullet pointed things to say - your age, if you had a pet, what your hobbies were, if you had children, what your favorite color was. 

And it said to make sure to write things people would find interesting. And then it told me to be courteous and not overwhelm the reader. So I finished the letter with "I'm 23." Because I didn't want to overwhelm her. And what if she didn't think my pet Max was interesting? Or what if she hated my favorite color? And then we could never be friends! 

I actually said a little bit more but I don't want to say because Kelsey will read this and then what was the point of sending the letter to her? And also I don't want to overwhelm all of you with too much information about me. Like how I sleep with a teddy bear named Ellie or my obsession Vermont food. That would be maple syrup, Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and Cabot Cheddar cheese. Something you should all love. I love them. Maybe not all at once... well... no, not all at once.  And I have an idea for give a way! But that shall be another post. 

I have already started to think about all the fun letters and trinkets I will send to her, and all the post cards she will get on my road trip/move down to Texas! It is so fun to have someone to send things too. I am so excited about that part, I almost forgot she'll be sending me letters too! Why did corresponding my letters become so old fashioned? It should be a timeless thing, don't you think?

DO YOU WANT A PEN PAL?? It turns out that Cait and I were on the same wave length with this pen pal thing and she is putting together a wonderful project. So if you want to take part in it, head on over and let her know. Also, become a follower! When she gets 500 she will do a give a way! And maybe you'll win!