Today’s letters are winging their way to Singapore! Bethany wrote to me a month or so ago, requesting a couple of letters for some special teachers in her life. I was delighted to oblige. I am a big fan of teachers! (Proof! And more proof!) It felt very apropos to send some love at the end of the school year. Have you thanked a teacher lately? What are you waiting for?! [Read more…]
A lot of you lovely readers write to me requesting advice on finding a pen pal. These requests make my heart swell—look Mom, people still want to write letters! I recently stumbled across postcrossing and all but clapped my hands with delight. Pen pal seekers, listen up.
Today’s letters are traveling all the way to Australia! Kathleen is a long-time supporter of snail mail and Letters from Lauren. The poor darling has attempted to send me not one BUT two post cards. And despite having the correct address, both have been returned! I just had to return the favor. Meaghan, a sweet fifteen-year-old requested a letter. She loves to send them, but her mailbox never feels full enough. I know how exciting mail call is (at any age) and was happy to oblige.
I got a very tall request all the way from Singapore. Bethany wanted not one, but three letters sent to some very special people in her life. And “ASAP please!” I of course obliged and reminded Bethany they don’t call it snail mail for nothing. Here’s hoping the post is swift across oceans.
Kat and I met by way of eBay. In my haste to get two packages out to two buyers in a jiffy, I swapped what I sold. Oops! Poor Kat got a sweater when she really paid for shoes. She was beyond lovely about my mix up. And as a result of many emails, we became strangers-no-more.
I try not to play favorites when it comes to letters, but this request from a secret admirer in England tops the charts. I am such a sucker for letters of love. The wooer’s email was so heartfelt and genuine, just bursting with sweet sentiments. He even created a special email address to keep his identity a secret from his ‘mates’. I hope the lucky lady feels extra special and cherished.
Nancy sweetly sent along some mail and asked if I might be interested in being pen pals. I was so sad to turn her down. But naturally, I pointed her in the direction of the Letter Writers Alliance (and no, I am not their spokesperson). I’ve also heard good things about the email-driven Pen Pal World, where you can pair up with correspondents all over the globe. I love knowing pen pals still exist, don’t you?!
I wanted to give you guys lots of letters this week to make up for my lack of correspondence last week. Today I sent two notes to lovely strangers. Annemarie is a stationery-shop-wannabe-owner like me and fellow LWA member! And Ashanti hung up his lab coat in pursuit of calligraphy. I know I could be real friends with these two.
Oh friends, my sincerest apologies for the absence. I paid a visit to my future in-laws this weekend (in sunny Florida, oh my) and took a little break from letter writing. And then there was a birthday celebration and a late night at work. Poor excuses, I know. But I missed you all and I’m back, just in time for the weekend.
Do you remember the 2000 movie Pay it Forward? A young boy preforms three acts of kindness. All he asks in return, is that the recipients of kindness “pay it forward” with three more good deeds in an effort to keep the cycle going. The movie (and book) sparked a movement. In 2007 Pay It Forward Day was founded in Australia, and now six years later more than fifty-two countries are performing acts of kindness, today!
My heart is deeply saddened. Another tragedy has rocked our nation.
Last night, the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Peter Jay Sharp building illuminated a message of love and support. “Peace and Love” “It shouldn’t take a tragedy for us to come together,” “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that,” a Martin Luther King, Jr. quote. And below, NY love B (in the Red Sox font).
Such truth friends. My thoughts are with the people of Boston and all those affected by this senseless tragedy. Know someone who needs a letter of love or support? Please let me know at lettersfromlauren@gmail.com.
