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Page 1 of 2  Kids of the younger generation, are you familiar with a mailbox? Yes, that private box or slot for receiving mails (I meant snail mails), bills, and/or magazine subscriptions. I'm sure you are (still) familiar with that.
How about the snail mail? Alright, it is just a derogatory retronym for the old ways of sending mails through the courier or the conventional postal delivery system, which we all know is as slow as a snail unlike its electronic equivalent, e-mail.
Of course you know all about these stuff. But these I want to ask everyone, young or old: when was the last time you opened your mail box at home and actually got a snail mail (not your monthly billing statement nor your regular newsletter/magazine subscription)? And when was the last time you dropped a letter or two at the post office (the real post office)?
Checking the mailbox? I do it every single day-- before I leave the house and as soon as I've opened the gate. Every single day! Even if I am expecting nothing from the box (except for dusts and some old fliers from some pizza parlor). I don't know but even with the internet stuff and the electronic ways of sending letters and/or cards, somehow I still wish I'd receive something tangible as snail mails.
I love to write (okay, that's given). When I was in grade school, I was active in a lot of extra curricular activities: camping, science fair, drum & lyre, choir, and a lot more. With these I have gained a lot of friends not just from my school but from other schools as well. Not just from the town proper but from the barrios as well. And not just from our town but from different towns and provinces, too. And if I feel a connection, I make sure I have their postal addresses written in my address book. Then I would send them some letters every now and then.
My fondness for correspondence grew more when I left my hometown to study in Manila (high school days). It was a blessing that UST has its own post office. Every night I would write something to some friends then I wouldn't mind if the line at the post office the next day would be long. I am happy putting stamps in every letter that I have written. And even if they have this electronic stamp already, I seldom use it. I like the classic stamp (local stamps cost a peso then. It went up to 5 pesos before I graduated in high school). Sometimes when I have extra money from my allowance, I would stock on stamps (adik ba?!) just to save time from the long line of people dropping their mails at the post office.
I was like that even when I reached college. I write and send cards to everyone. Childhood/grade school, and high school friends and even to some whom I've only met once. Like Jem, ART, and Sharonne-- they were some of those I met in a Science Fair (regional) back in grade school. They were from Urdaneta City, Pangasinan. Thanks to Friendster, we have renewed the connection. There were some that I've lost in touch already (change of address probably). But I know like love letters, what we had through those years of writing letters, will somehow bring us down the memory lane.
Ahhh.. love letters, I said.
I remember some of my love letters were sent to me via (snail) mail. Most of my suitors in high school (and at the early part of my college days) weren't from the city and the only way they could show their affection to me was through writing love letters. Long distance calls would cost them much back then and there's no pager nor mobile phones yet. So there, love letters (in scented stationeries) arrive at my doorstep every now and then.
I just love writing letters. And a lot of people from my past would attest to that. Although the e-world has taken my zest in writing real (I meant handwritten) letters, I could honestly say, I am somehow (sometimes) craving for the traditional ways.
Love letters or not (as long as it's not my monthly bills or my bank statements), I love it whenever I receive one. Even if the card only says, "Hi Mae" and the rest of the message came from the template of the card, as long as it has my name on it, it gives me a different feeling. An overwhelming one. A feeling that someone took time to write something for me and actually put some effort in putting a stamp on the envelope and sending it to the post office. It's different!
This year, from January 1, out of the 25 times that I have opened my mailbox (double it because I open my mailbox at least twice a day), I have received two (2) snail mails so far. It doesn't matter if they were for last year's (supposed-to-be) Christmas greetings. What matters is that I still receive snail mails every once in a while.
Believe me, sometimes opening a letter or a card, mailed or handed to me personally, is such a treat to my aching days and sometimes it's additional cheese on my favorite pasta.
The last time that I sent one? Well... it was last year and it was a letter to my (ex)boyfriend. Probably the break-up letter and then there's another one after he took it as a joke.  Readers have left 7 comments. 1. Untitled
jc, Unregistered now that i know you reqally love writing letters... here's my address 1360 legend lane san jose, ca 95131 u s a  2. Untitled
me, Unregistered email address na lang po  LOL! 3. Untitled
jc, Unregistered ay... puro bills na naman ang matatanggap ko  4. Untitled
jemima rillera kempster, Unregistered i like this post mae! those were fun times when i receive a thick envelope from manila, with unashamedly pink and flowery letters from the girl that we met at a science fair... it would usually have two or three photos of a huge barkada, some whom I ended up writing emails to for a short time. believe it or not, i still have one pen-pal now whom i started writing to as a 5th grader. we both have emails but we have somehow preserved that snail mail correspondence (mostly typed on the computer now), but i assure you it is such wonderful feeling to know someone has taken the time to write to you. 5. Untitled
mae, Unregistered hi jem, it sure is a good feeling. i wish kids nowadays would try it pa rin :) 6. Untitled
ria, Unregistered how i wish people nowadays would still try once in a while the snail mail. it sure is a good feeling... that feeling of anticipation and excitement in opening the mail. there is nothing more special than a person exerting effort in handwriting his thoughts. mahirap din yun ha! nakakapagod and nakakangalay!
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I am Mae German. 34 years old. Born in Mangatarem, province of Pangasinan. I was taught and trained by 
Some-Kinda-Blog-Stop 
Posted 2008-01-27 01:30:17