The Handwritten Letter

The handwritten letter is alive and well, people ... Inspite of, or maybe because of, you guessed it. Modern technology!  So here is my story... some corn from the cobb... if you will.

It is about my friend, Randee whom I've known since 7th grade.  We met at Jackson Junior High in the 60's and then onto Commerce/ Cass Tech High.  Randee and I were inseparable.  She introduced me to Winston/Salem cigarettes, slow gin, mixed with Coca-cola, sad movies, skipping school, magazines, books, roller derby & hockey... All that fun stuff.  We would walk the east side streets of Detroit together, sit on the Waterworks Park monument and watch the boys go by.  We shared our love stories.  We may have shared even our boyfriends....well.... no need to go there  :)  We spent summers and summer vacations together.  My first time up north was with Randee.   Her family invited me to come to their log cabin. (I think that is why, to this day, I love log cabins)The cabin was located along the Rifle River, where two young girls could walk freely and without a care in the world, through the woods, dipping our toes into  that very chilly river.

I loved Randee.  She was my best friend. I still love her and I still consider her,  my best friend.  (I better tell her that)

Well, we fell out of touch, as so often happens.  Randee got married before I did, and started her family.  Two beautiful kids.  I went to work, and then later got married and started my family.  Three beautiful kids.   We both were busy living our lives.  Through those years, though, I would, out of the blue receive a handwritten letter from my friend.   She would fill me in on things going on in her life.   Tragically, Randee lost her son, Rocky, and I'm sorry to say, after that, we lost communication.  I moved, she moved.  We went different directions, and the years flew by.   I'd say 30  years flew by.

One day, three years ago, I received a letter.  It said "If this is the Linda, who lived on Milton, grew up in Detroit, went to Cass Tech, then I'm glad I found you.  If not I'm sorry, just disregard this letter."  I was the Linda she was looking for, and I was thrilled to hear from my old best friend.  She went on to say her daughter found me, by searching Google!  Technology is a wonderful thing!

Randee and I have been writing to each other every week or two, ever since.  And we have visited each other in person.  Each visit brings us back to those teen years ... and now into the future, where we can legally smoke and drink (not that we do :).

We think we have mastered the art of letter writing, though, as each one is a conversation, an answer to a question, the sharing of opinions.  We talk about American Idol, books, movies, dancing with the stars, and the music we loved as teens and now, our current favorites.  We share a few complaints we may have about people, places and things ...  just like long ago.

So, even though, I am currently in "Facebook Rehab"  I am very thankful for today's technology that helped two best friends reconnect, actually sit down and physically put pen to paper.  Buy some very cool postage stamps, decorate the envelope with stickers, and mail a real handwritten letter.

The best part of it all, is that, hopefully, in a week or two, a trip to the mailbox will have something other than a bill in it.   A special handwritten letter from my best friend, addressed especially to me.

  Wishing everyone a handwritten letter from a friend.

  LKC