One of the most memorable gifts my husband has ever given me was a packet of letters. We were going to be apart for three weeks, which is a really long time for us. I won’t go into the mushy details, but neither of us looked forward to the lengthy separation. On the day I boarded the plane, he handed me a stack of large white envelopes with a rubber band around them. On the front of each envelope he had written “Day 1”, “Day 2”, and so on.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“It’s something we did in the Navy when we were gone for long periods of time,” he said. “Wait till you get there to open the first one.”
I couldn’t stand the suspense, but I waited and it was worth the wait. He had written a brief letter to me for everyday we were to be apart. Every morning I would open another envelope and read a story, a poem, a wish, a memory, a joke, or plans for something we wanted to do when I returned home. It was absolutely the most romantic thing ever. I loved it and returned the favor the next time our schedules pulled us apart for several days.
Letters are a foreign language to some people in this age of emails and social networking. Technology pales, however, to the warmth and power of words prepared just for a special recipient. The letters from my husband were funny, charming, sexy, and interesting. And when I sat down to create a packet for him to take on a trip, the challenge was bigger than I expected. It required me to think forward and backward at the same time. I wanted my letters to be meaningful and interesting, and I wanted them to be something he could enjoy on his trip.
People love getting letters. Is there someone in your life who is taking a trip in the near future? Want to tell them they are loved? Prepare a packet of letters in advance of the trip. The letters don’t have to be lengthy, just meaningful in some personal way that you share with the receiver. Here are some ideas:
*Write a quote a day at the top of each letter.
*If you have plans while the person is away, tell them in the letter for that day. “Today I’m scheduled to see the dentist. I hope he has purple toothbrushes this time!”
*Copy poems about travelers or journeys
*Draw pictures or include photographs
*Send jokes
*Remind them to visit your blog on a certain date and include a note to them in your blog post
*Include any special dates they should remember while they are gone like birthdays and anniversaries
*Tell them how much you are looking forward to their return
This is an example of a writing gift that makes an incredible memory for friends and couples. Have you ever done this before? Any similar ideas that you’ve experienced with writing gifts?
Meanwhile, remember to look for a digital or print copy of Writer Wellness, A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity at Who Dares Wins Publishing, http://whodareswinspublishing.com.
And check out these great blogs for ideas to keep your writing and publishing healthy and prosperous.
http://writeitforward.wordpress.com/ Bob Mayer
http://jenniholbrooktalty.wordpress.com/ Jenni Holbrook
http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/ Kristen Lamb
http://inspiration4writers.blogspot.com/ Inspiration for Writers, Inc.
http://pentopublish.blogspot.com/ Natalie Markey
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I will put this excellant idea to use. I do try to write my two adult children who live away a letter a week, so you have given me new ideas for these letters. Currently my daughter’s husband-to-be often rushes to get the mail and open the letters first, a validation of how much people do enjoy snail mail.
Brilliant and thrilled I could offer some ideas. Thanks for your comments!