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| free images from Google |
I was reading Vidya sury’s post on thousands
words worth picture http://vidyasury.com/2015/09/words-worth-snailmail.html. While reading through the post so many
thoughts filled my mind and I for a brief while I went backwards, taking a
reverse gear remembering all the lovable and memorable moments and excitements
of waiting for the postman week after week, reading letters coming from my
friends, uncle and also cousins.
I loved receiving letters and I used to
collect letters and keep it safe in a file; and whenever I felt like reading I
would just pick it up and went into another world with the writer, happily
listening to the conversation.
I have memory of my elder sister who joined
the convent, writing beautiful inland letters for us; from Dharward, a
novitiate, a place where the young girls are trained to become nuns. Where she
was a novice – it was a pleasure for my dad to read her letter, which was written in tamil, while all of us
sat and heard what she wrote…. My mom kept all her letters safely in a trunk
for a very long time; and after her death the letters became all the more
precious as my mom used to see them and cry…. I held those letters written in
ink for some time, as I got it after my mother’s death… some of her articles like
her specs, hymn book and a few sarees was given to me. Then I found those
letters becoming soft and because of the folds tearing into pieces…and then I let
go of it…
Then I also recall some
very great conversations with one of
my cousin brother; who that time was posted to Gujarat from Pune on work and
was very friendly and sweet. His letters were mostly in Tamil, and I loved the
language as Tamil was my first language in school. I knew to read as well as
write Tamil and his letters were full of love, affection and affirmation a
brother can express to his sister. In between he will mix Hindi and I did enjoy
mixing languages and writing, some times even quotes and songs that expressed caring
nature of a brother (even the rakhi songs).
I remember sending a small rakhi in the envelope for him and waiting
eagerly to his acknowledgement and to hear from him.
Now when I think about it; I feel funny and
crazy for being so passionate in penning every thought to this brother; and yes
also happy because now I realize that I had a person on the other end who
listened to all my silly stories and still loved and accepted me
unconditionally. Gradually I lost touch and we moved on in our lives. Last year I got opportunity to go to pune and
I ensured that I met him and started reconnecting once again, and felt so
happy.
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| one of the condolence letter from a friend |
Similarly I had an uncle in Riyadh, a
mechanical engineer, who was very fond of me and always affirmed me for every
small thing I did, whether I read the bible in the church, started prayers or
sang – he used to always appreciate me.
He was also a distant relative of our family from my father’s side. One
fine day he met me in the church and told me that he got an assignment in
Riyadh and he would be away for a couple of years. He had three sons an one
daughter and he considered me his eldest daughter and made a request that I
should keep in touch with his family, as he is away and guide his children as
they were all very much younger to me.
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| A special card from a good friend |
I took this up seriously and started visiting
his house every week and there it was I was getting every fortnight one letter
from him, as he used to call his house and his wife (my aunt) and his children
would tell him of my visits. Every letter was filled with thanksgiving of how
much it meant for him that I visit his house and pray in his house; the letters were very neatly written in a
cursive handwriting and I still remember the colour of the paper, it wa a bright
yellow and written in black ink. It looked
like that he had some very special letter pads (which was very popular – I
remember stocking letter pads with various designs and smiley’s etc to write
letters.
I also remember receiving a few letter pads as gifts on my birthdays
as most of my friends appreciated my letters to them and they knew that I would
love to have it. So with the latest design and stock of letter pads I used to
write everything about myself, his family, the church and the activities going
on in the community and also what the lunch I had in house, birthdays I
attended of his children and also some lovely bible quotations as affirmations.
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| A thank you note from group of friends |
I remember when I was in school I used to copy
a pen pal addresses from the small magazine called “Teenager” which was a
monthly small booklet for youngsters, and few more magazines that used to carry addresses of persons interested in pen pals.
What I dreaded the most was the telegram,
which used to come in a line or two, and mostly telegrams communicated serious
messages of illness, death and in very few occasions it would be surprise
birthday and anniversary wishes.
Letters have always been part of my life and I
realize now how much I have lost out on writing; now I do write emails, but no
more handwritten letters…. I used to have a good stock of thank you cards and
get well cards, which I also used to post along with the long letters I wrote.
These were simple joys in life…. the communication was from the heart, ensuring
that what is written is not hurting the person and there was so much love,
concern and care in our expressions, as
I used to write to persons who are far away from home and from their
loved ones. Always thoughtful that they are supported enough to be able to
carry on their responsibilities assuring them of my prayers, love and care. The
response was beautiful letters filled with acknowledgements, appreciations and
blessings.
I did receive a couple of very thoughtful
letters from two of my friends; after the death of my son, it was a condolence
letter, written neatly on a white sheet of paper, expressing their sadness and
also comforting me …. I loved reading them and have kept it safe… found one in
my cupboard. Also found a thank you card
that I received from my previous office I worked; where all my colleagues have
written stating how much I mean to them… there are a lot more cards special
cards which I have kept safely.
Unfortunately I have not kept all my letters.. but they are all their in my
mind, a soft copy (memory) which can never be destroyed; which has a high
recall value.
"A letter is a blessing, a great and
all-too-rare privilege that can turn a private moment into an exalted
experience”. Alexandra Stoddard.
