Creator1

A member of my family has joined the military and is in training currently. I heard from another family member that he asked specifically for letters from me. I remember being in boot camp and receiving about 2 letters. They weren’t much but they were everything to me. It’s nice to know that when the world goes on when you’re gone that people are still thinking about you.

So I find myself writing a letter to the first time in… It’s been a while, probably years. I write frequently, daily even, but not a letter and never to someone else directly. I found myself writing a very different way. Sure the content in a letter is vastly different than my writings, but I noticed the tone was as well. It was more free flowing and less concerned with grammar, or having structure, it was conversational.

It was difficult, writing about myself and the humdrum of daily life, but that’s what I wanted in these training’s, to hear about normal life. So, I write about my businesses, running, the family, travels, and we have the kids send pictures and drawings. I find myself ending the letter with a slew of questions; ‘how are you liking it there?’, ‘Have you made friends?’, ‘Do you enjoy traveling this much?’, ‘What has been your favorite part so far?’ I have some many questions, having been through some of his training myself, I am anxious to talk to someone else who’s going through it now.

Another phenomenon that initially annoyed, but now fascinates me, is that I simply couldn’t write fast enough to get my thoughts out as fast as I can type. This is especially true when I write letters that are intended to be read, because I must use block lettering they taught me in the military. Normally, if the notes are for me they are a sloppy cursive block letter mix that only I can seem to decipher. This delay caused me to really think about what I was going to write next and conduct a sort of in-the-flow editing. Able to pick better words or reword a sentence before it’s written, or think of what I’m truly trying to say improves my letter immediately. Lastly, my hand cramped, likely a sign I should do this more!

I think this will improve my writing, so I will likely physically write more of my stories instead of typing them. I want to try to start writing letters to other people in my life. There is something nice about receiving and writing letters, much more personal and caring than an out of the blue email. It’s helped me reconnect with a family member and I look forward to continuing this with them and others I’m close with.