Inked Intimacy
I like to think that one of the best things to happen to humanity is technology. It's brought us connections with the internet and our everyday gadgets, like our smartphones. It may feel as though we are much closer than our ancestors used to be without it, but when we think of the things it has taken away from us, we may reminisce about the experiences we used to have and miss them.
As far as I can remember, the first letter I received was from my first crush. Apparently, she was crushing on me too. We were young. I was 10 and she was 9, if I remember correctly. Or maybe a tad bit older. Anyway, we had mobile phones around then, but we hadn't connected beyond seeing each other in the neighbourhood yet.
Then one day, I got a letter from her. She had strategically placed it somewhere only I would find it, and then she hinted at me. I read it. My eyes shined at what I saw. I mean, it was brief, but I was surprised at what she thought about me. I don't even remember what was in that letter, but I was so excited to get it. And she had such pretty handwriting.
I imagined her in her pretty glasses, thinking of me and penning down her genuine thoughts about me. Surely, the feeling wouldn't have been the same with a text if she had done that instead. I responded with a letter too. With my chicken handwriting, I was hoping that love would help her look beyond it.
It was always really nice to see people write letters to people when I was much younger, particularly in schools. You'd see a piece of paper being passed around stealthily so the teacher doesn't catch it, and you just know it's some love letter or some random gossip between friends.
One time, I got another love letter during one of our school breaks. It was from another person I was crushing on. A friend of hers had slipped it into my food bag—which was just a small polythene bag with five sausage rolls and a small bottle of yoghurt—when I left for a while to cheer my friends playing football. And fast forward to a couple of weeks later, and this girl and I were dating. We were just two goofy twelve-year-olds.
Handwritten letters were more than just words written on paper. They often embodied more of the sender with their handwriting, the manner of delivery, and almost giving a bit of the sender's essence. And sometimes, they are perfect cherries on top of cakes for gifts.
Growing up, I wrote my mother heartfelt messages for her birthdays. I never really had the money or big ideas on what to present as gifts to her, so I usually wrote what I felt about her, showing her love and appreciation as a son who had always felt her love. She keeps them close, even now.
Almost anything is digital now, and handwritten letters are almost a myth—at least for the generations to come. We don't see or hear of people sending written letters to themselves for any reason. E-mail just cuts it. And so, slowly, with time, we no longer think of it.
I still love the concept of handwritten letters. When I want to be a little romantic with my woman, I take a second to reflect on something about her or about us and let my words just flow however they come. With a pen on paper in my journal, I would then take a photo of it and send it to her—because we are mostly far from ourselves these days.
She usually likes it when I do that—send her random photos of handwritten words to her. And I do, too. They are just much more different than the texts that we're all used to. It's a little more personal when it's handwritten, I think.
When she sends her handwritten letter to me, though, it's artwork. She's more creative with hers. much more stylish handwriting, so pretty, and there are doddles around. You sure can't get that with texts, or can you? Just what I thought...
Moving on... And so when I found one of this week's prompts was about "something that has slowly faded away with time and that I would like to bring back," handwritten letters came to mind quickly. The digital space we have now somehow steals the realism we used to get from certain physical experiences.
Thinking more about it, I may as well turn it into some practice. Not just with letters to people I care about, but also with journaling for myself. I don't journal like I used to. It used to be one way I assessed my thoughts, expressed myself, and understood myself better.
Handwritten letters will always remain golden to me. It's something that gives a different feeling, especially with people we care about. It'll be nice to see it around as it used to be.
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Handwritten notes and letters have a special kind of appeal that it sends out to the recipient.
To me, I feel giddy because that person's effort, knowledge and skills are vivid to behold.
I also still pen letters to a few friends though it's only on their birthdays but I Kno that they truly appreciate it.
Ah...you know good things, Becky. And it's so nice that you also send out handwritten letters out, just as you like to receive them. And it doesn't have to be love letters, truly.
Yep, it doesn't. Have a lovely weekend Jay
I think the reason technology took over ink on paper was to help those of us whose handwritings were like fowl scrash😂
😂 You are talking about me 🤧
😂😂😂 Thank God I didn't mention names
This man has exposed our secret! 🤣
Just reading this makes me want to write a handwritten letter to the LOML 😊
Take a picture of it and send, due to distance is the only way that it can be delivered.
Thank you for this piece Olujay
What are you waiting for, comrade? You should have sent that letter by now. I'm sure she'd love it!
Hopefully, I'll see more of you around, blood.
Okay now this chicken handwriting statement is making me want to see how exactly that chicken handwriting looks like because because becauseee😂
Eiiii...madam. Face front! Nothing to see here. Because your own will be to laugh at me 🤣
Unless we trade...
😂😂😂😂😂
You reminded me of those moments we passed letters in school as kids. Those were the good old days.
Good old days, man. Good old days.
Olujay took us on a romantic journey with his entry, shooo😍🥰
Hehehe, so interesting that you still practice hand written letters in a world where technology ha taken away most of our traditional ways of doing things. I can't even remember the last time I write something in a paper that much and guess what, we are becoming lazy with spelling and grammar because we can easily get it on net since hand written text I fading away gradually.
@sagarkothari88 vote
We are getting lazy with grammar, truly. 😂
We now we use these AI to check grammar and spelling every now and then.
I wonder what engineer would think about a a random handwritten letter from you. Hmmm...
Haha 😂, now Jay is sending me an assignment... should I try this🤔🤔
https://inleo.io/threads/olujay/re-olujay-xoz9yreu
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It's always beautiful to watch people write something to me or for me, I love appreciating handwritings and I really do think it is romantic for anyone to take their time to write on a paper to anyone these days.
Keep getting creative with your love life Jay, it's mostly beautiful and lovely to Read. I'm in full support, we want handwritten letters back, justice for this comrade 🤣🤣
I see you also wouldn't mind if your man writes you handwritten letter, Hope. I imagine how excited you would get each time...
I mean, when I'm in love, I get totally committed and give in my all. I thought everyone did that. Lol
Of course I would, there was actually a time in my teens when I can just have a crush on a guy because of his handwriting 🤭. I never miss an opportunity to appreciate someone who has a very beautiful handwriting, hehe.
Really? Wow, we have another thing in common 🥴😆
I pray your love life work out well and hopefully do the needful in few years From today 🌝
Such a touching reflection on the beauty of handwritten letters! Your story really highlights the personal connection and authenticity that comes with penning down our thoughts on paper.
It's wonderful to hear how these letters have played such a meaningful role in your life and relationships.
Thanks for sharing this heartfelt reminder of the importance of preserving these cherished traditions. 📝💕
Thankfully, you appreciate handwritten letters as well. They may not be the most expensive thing to give, but they can reach deep in the heart if done well.
I Don come read romance from dreemport X. Who is the lady ooo. The madam the madam, show us make we know how we go plan aso ebi.
You can even write her a letter on your wedding day and we'd pass it to her.
I do agree that writing on a piece of paper is really sweet. I miss that, too. The smell of books.
In due time, BK. In due time, we will all know who Miss Olujay is. 😄
I miss the smell of such letters and old books too. Virtually everything is digital now, and that makes us miss out on these things.
Haha... I look forward to that due ooo. Sha, no, let am reach 9 months 😁.
Yeah, that's right. The feeling...phew!
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Na the content of that first letter na e me I dey very interested in o, hehe
For sure many of us experienced the incident you narrated, and I also wish I can take the clock backwards to finish certain things I left out, hehe
Nice one baba
Those were the good old days, man. Good old days. We could still sort of bring it back, though. People just don't think much about it.
As for the letter, even I don't remember. Lol
I have the same exact thoughts... you know I think... when you get that letter - you have traces of their actual selves on that paper... when they press their hands and fingers against the paper to hold it still - it transfers microscopic bits of them for you to have! hehehehe even traces of their scent!! maybe we can't smell it - but our brains probably pick it up
and your ideas about handwriting... same. handwriting IS a part of the person. and it doesn't matter if its beautiful or chicken scratch... its from that person. its like their fingerprint! its unique and them and sooo special.
I still have a BOX of letters from all throughout life... and some of them have been destroyed because they were kept in a box in our garage and mice got into it!!!! ughhh of all the places they could have gotten into! why there!
I salvaged about half of them!!! but they are from 9 and 10 and 11 and on! hehehe
i love them all
I don't know if I'll ever actually READ them all again hahahaha but that's not the point, right?
they were held at one point - and made their indelible mark on my heart - and now they are treasures.
but I STILL to this day do handwritten notes... i never stop - i can't. I feel like you - how can we let this slip away???
People like us need to keep this alive hehehe
How DARE they?? Those pesky mice!!
Hold up, though. You have a BOX of old letters?? Wow. That's impressive. I don't think I still have all the letters I have gotten. I wasn't that much of a keeper growing up.
As you described the "essence of the writer in their handwriting," I was taken back in time to that moment I got the letter from my first crush. It did feel like I had a part of her in my hands back then.
I wonder if I can ask: Did you both send letters between yourselves, and do you still do even after 30 years? I'm so CURIOUS.
Someday, I'll pick a few days to think about a few people dear to me and write them things. I'll send photos, but I'll get the letters to them some day. I think it's good practice we should bring back.
YES... i still do handwritten letters! they are SOOOO important to me.
When Pen and Sam came on the trip to Panama to see me... I sent them away with handwritten cards telling them how much the trip meant to me.
Sam also had one for me hehehe
I love the angle from which you approached this prompt. Handwritten letter has a way of having some connections between the writer and the recipient beyond just the words. It's a unique way that connects the feelings of both parties. That era has gone into extinct truly. If it can be brought back, I will do much love it.
#dreemerforlife
Yes, man. It's not extinct yet, though. It just takes a pen and paper, and genuine thoughts to get one made. Such good times we had when we sent letters back then.
Hmm, hmmm.
Bro it is not everyone that had the privilege of having a good handwriting, though I was aware of the usage of love letters but I never tried it, chicken handwriting is far better than mine. Have you seen when a shrimp 🦐 is dancing in the sand, that is what mine looks like.
So pls lets stick with text messages because handwritten letters Na bad market for me.
I guess we both do not have great handwriting. 😂
It doesn't bother me anymore. I now embrace it.
It's all good if you prefer texts. After all, it's what's most convenient to express ourselves better we should go for.
I can't even remember the last time I wrote anything ever since I graduated 😅