Yesterday afternoon I had a meeting via Google Hangouts with 9 people across the US. About 10 minutes after the meeting ended, I Skyped with my sister who lives in Canada. All month I have been writing, sharing and reading slices with people all over the world. It is amazing when you think about it.
In 1982, when I was 17, I left home to spend a year in Denmark as an exchange student. It took about a week to 10 days weeks for a letter to arrive. I only called by parents on Christmas because calls were so expensive. My parents saved all the letters I wrote and still have them.
In 1991, when I was 26, I moved to Colombia, where I spent 3 years teaching at an American school. Letters took 2 weeks. Since the phone was my responsibility, I called occasionally, but not often. It was still expensive.
When I moved back to North America in 1994, I got my first job that had this thing called e-mail and a connection to the internet.
Now, everyone is on the phone everywhere. I can talk to anyone anywhere, or send them an e-mail.
But I sort of miss letters. The anticipation. The reading and re-reading. The thought that something that touched my hand will soon be touching yours.
We have all the connections.
booksandbassets 
There is something special about a letter. We now have the ability to connect easily, quickly and inexpensively, letter writing seems to be a lost art. I still have letters from my mom from my college days in the 80s. I’m not sure my emails to my own children have the same meaning.
It is such a shame that letter writing in becoming a lost art for so many. Technology has really changed our lives and the way in which we communicate. I can’t even imagine what it will be like 10 years from now.
Letters are precious. I think I have always enjoyed the immediacy of hearing my loved ones voice.
I loved reading this. I am an old soul and your writing and wonderfully evocative picture made me think of explorers and pioneers for whom any contact with family was a luxury. Thanks so much for sharing.
I miss letters too. There’s not much to anticipate anymore when going out to the mailbox. Emails don’t have the same flavor. I remember when I first had internet access… stayed up all night exploring. Now I’m glad to get away from it!