I just cracked into my mail (I often get my US mail at my parents’ address, and collect it when I visit), and found a Christmas card from ‘Jake’ and ‘Suvilla’, Amish friends in Ohio.
Jake included a two-page letter to get me up to date with what’s been going on since my last visit. In true Amish-letter fashion, he starts out with a fairly in-depth description of the weather (snow, freezing rain, rain, wind, more snow, happy for the warm house) before diving into community news.
Community news usually includes the standard run-down of recent injuries, illnesses and mishaps. I felt a sudden pit in my stomach when I read the line, ‘I wonder if you heard about…’ followed by the name of an Amish friend in the area.
I expected the next line to be news of a death, but it wasn’t so. It turns out that although this particular friend was in a fairly severe accident, he seems to be recovering well. Thankfully. I’ll drop a card in the mail on Monday.
Jake also reminded me about how his work place is relocating. His daily commute will soon more than double. Jake currently bikes to work, but with the increased distance, that will probably no longer be an option.
Fortunately, his employer is going to take care of transportation. Jake is not so sure that’s a good thing. ‘I hope I won’t get too fat, you know how my wife can cook,’ he writes.
I do know. Be careful, Jake.
And it seems we’ll be corresponding electronically now, as Jake included the e-mail address he uses at work.
Hand-written letters are special–mainly because no one writes them anymore. But does this mean they could die out even among the Amish?
Technology continues its march…
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I hope hand written letters continue. I love to write and send handwritten notes and cards. I have a german friend who makes the most gorgeous cards! What a treat it is to find one in the mail.
My Aunt is part of a circle of cousins that sends and receives handwritten letters. When she gets a new circle of letters every other month or so she copies them and sends them to me. I love to read the letters, especially from my Amish cousins because it gives me insight into a life I don’t normally get to experience.
Reid
Michelle, Reid, that is great. Handwritten notes and letters-I love getting them too. Reid that is a circle letter your aunt is involved in–where the recipient adds on to the bunch and just sends it onward? That would be very neat to participate in.
Yes, the circle extends mostly throughout Indiana, but ventures into Michigan and as far as North Dakota. One person from each branch of the family updates the rest of the family of goings-on in that branch. I learn a lot from reading it, in fact it is how I learned a friend from High School married one of my cousins.
Reid Hochstedler