17 Comments
Apr 16, 2023Liked by Richard Goodman

Richard: What a moving, wonderful nod to a time that may one day be gone, but one that has not yet left. And perhaps this piece could one day be a CNF book by Richard Goodman! :-)

I remember the moment email arrived. I had an active mail correspondence with probably over 25 people across the country and even in a couple of countries. We would communicate via stamps that you had to lick...maybe twice a month. But when we communicated, we communicated. And the holiday cards of all kinds and occasions.

Then, email arrived. And one by one, people "transitioned" online. Instead of thoughtful letters, I received daily emails that basically said nothing, the forwarding of jokes that were not even funny.

I have stayed in constant touch via stamps with two people whop actively write back: my high school English and French teacher AND an old friend...someone who has been a friend since we were 13.

I've used the pandemic to try and revive the tradition with some family members. They always email or text to say thanks for the letter. ugh. Anyway, there's a novel there...someplace. ;-)

Write on, my friend.

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Apr 16, 2023Liked by Richard Goodman

Beautiful piece, Richard. I love letters as well and have been holding on to boxes and boxes of them. They are the only reason why I have never given up using my fountain pen.

I spotted your heroic Ford focus in the background!

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I find myself longing to write a letter but being aware how odd people would find it. Perhaps I should. I was thrilled to read your writing that eventually became French Dirt- the bucket, the stream, the egg-plants. a real archive piece.

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Thank you, Richard. One day - in the near future - you'll receive my letter (smile).

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Dear Richard! What a wonderful, nostalgy-evoking story! I so much would like to write a letter to you. Anyhow, I was about to contact you through FB messenger or email with a subject that is important to me, and which brings me to the time you were my memoir-class teacher. If only I could have your address!

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"The letter writing hand is the legs of the mind." Such an apt image! I agree with the thrill of seeing an actual LETTER in my mailbox and mourn the loss of reading a loved ones handwriting (legible or otherwise.) Thanks for the moving elegy to this art form.

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Guilty as charged and remorseful.

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Richard this lovely. Beautifully written and heartfelt. I’m making the effort to write more letters too.

I’ve also started writing to people who have been diagnosed with cancer via this wonderful charity:

https://www.frommetoyouletters.co.uk/donate-a-letter

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What a beautiful tribute and I agree wholeheartedly. I’ve saved letters, cards and notes from people over the years, but it is sadly a dying art…

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