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encouragement
December 2008 
Pen Pals
Diane
Some of you are too young to remember Pen Pals, but during a time long, long ago, before computers, cell phones, ipods and the like, there was a time when one actually sat down and wrote on a piece of paper. Some of you may have even seen this exhibit in museums.
It was a time during a child's schooling, when a teacher would encourage their students to pick a name of a child from another country to correspond with through writing letters. They would share stories of their families, friends, life styles and deepest thoughts, encouraging and inspiring one another. Unfortunately, one had to wait for weeks for a letter to be delivered or received, especially if their Pen Pal lived across the country or across an ocean.
It must have seemed forever, waiting to hear from their new friend! Each day they probably rushed to the mailbox looking for that letter. Can you imagine the anticipation, the eagerness and the joy that came when that letter finally arrived? As soon as they opened the letter, their heart raced to find out all the events that had transpired in the lives of their new friends; then filled with excitement, and pen in hand, they sat down to share their stories. Usually, in less than a day (or two), stories were composed, written, sealed in an envelope and hurried off to the mailbox.... and so it went.
Gee!! that's funny! Each day I get home from work and run to my inbox. I'm filled with anticipation and eagerness to see if a letter has arrived from my new friends from across the country and across the oceans. I can hardly wait to hear their inspiring and encouraging words and read their stories. Then I sit down to the computer to share my stories with them. Fortunately, all of this happens with just a click, and instantly I'm there.
Do you think we might be the modern day Pen Pals? Maybe so! at least for now.
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Hi my pen pal…
I had a pen pal when I was in Junior school,
yes she was in the USA in lake Michigan, wow I thought it was sooo cool that I shared with someone in America…I wrote once or twice but then was not able to get access to stamps..(ie cost etc) However I remember feeling excited to receive her mail all the way from America…
It felt so wonderful that we were so far away from each other and yet I could read her hand writing…So different now yes, but the wonder and connection remains the same
Thank you for reminding me of the wonder of pen pals…or now we could put a (o) at the beginning o-pen pals…:)
Love and blessings
Ange
I had pen pals, too! One in Sweden, I remember, and another in Vermont, and a few more at various stages of my childhood. It was such a treat learning about their worlds, and so funny (to me then) seeing what they'd find amazing about mine.
Thank you for this reminder. And yes, I think we are.
Dearest Pen Pals,
What do you think? Would it be possible that pen pals might often have been of the feminine persuasion? I never got to have one! But I do now. And I sense that there is something transcendent, peacefully gently so expansive, about the way women “do” relationship. I come away from the profound tender pieces of your life that you choose to share with me; I come away enriched, deepened, made a better version of myself. How can I thank you enough.
Now, it's not something that the gentle men amongst us couldn't do too. Maybe it's something that we need to take them by the hand and lead them towards. Mannnnnn. How rich and exciting and promising this life is! And I shall be forever filled with appreciation that all of you are here, sharing, giving–receiving. You make my world sing!!
i remember pen pals. but i am not sure if I had one.
Wow, what a memory, LOL! A wonderful post.
Our teacher handed out penpals to us one day, and then we had to spend the rest of the class writing a letter. That first day, we hated her for it, but it was so exciting when the letters started coming back, from all over the world. Exotic stamps, a stranger's handwriting, all sorts of wonderful news.
Back then, it was exciting just to get any letter, as a child. If you stuck with the friendship, you'd end up exchanging photos and magazine clippings and Christmas cards and all sorts of wonderful things.
Fast and easy 'clicks' are nice, but those letters were something special; worth waiting for. Thanks for reviving the memory!