Sunday, April 11, 2010

Letters home

Once upon a time there lived two young girls.

If they were bad at school, they were worse outside.

They giggled and connived together at Mrs Kavaghner in class and called out the window to the boys that met them from school in their cars. They had pyjama parties at each others houses and snacked on sweets as they watched old movies. They journeyed they're first bus ride together, then their first drive together after passing their tests. They holidayed in the sun together and shared stories of their first boyfriends. They laughed and cried, they fought and hugged. Their friendship spanned decades.

One day, one of the two girls decided to go travelling for a year. This was not an end to a friendship, but the beginning of a penpal correspondence.

Week after week, I would open letter after letter, laugh at clippings cut from the newspapers, pin photographs she sent on my walls, listen to her tape recordings. Week after week I would receive the sports pages to keep up to date with the football scores. Week after week I would send letters and share my experiences of life abroad with her. I wrote about the foreign army soldiers, the boyfriends and breakups, the tours and trips. I wrote about my calamity of a week in the army, the terrifying and memorable mountain climbs, the backbreaking work in the factory and the labour of picking mango's.

Oy vey, if I was sweating, she was sweating with me.

I shared her news of being a first time auntie and enjoyed the photos she sent. Her news of her engagement, the time in between and the break up. College, University and making new friends. Tennis coaches, holidaying on boats and a million parties I felt like I was at.

Those were the days when there was no Internet, no email, no mobile phones. I just had a pad of airmail paper, a good pen and an AT&T calling card. Being the sentimental type, I kept every single one of those letter, cards, tapes and newspaper cuttings. And, I'm delighted they have just resurfaced.

Memories. I've had a ball tonight. Thank you.

10 comments:

Java said...

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http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

You have mad me sob with your blog today! Those letters were the most important part of my life at that time - they kept me in contact with my best friend. I loved and still love every single minute of our 25 year friendship! Lou x x x

Hand Knitted Things said...

A lovely story and wonderful paper treasures.

Blair McLeod said...

i love snail mail! i need to send more of it!!

I’d love for you to stop by: www.wild-and-precious.com

Unknown said...

That's a lot of letters - a lot of memories, and you are still friends, that's the best thing!

Sweetpea4kids said...

Lou - So proud to call you my friend, your a very special person. xxx

Jorth said...

Such a fun post!

Unknown said...

Nothing beats a handwritten letter , how lovely you still have them .

UK lass in US said...

My mum brought over a box of letters from my teen years. Oh, the memories. I love e-mail, I do - especially since living abroad, but nothing compares to a long hand written letter.

Unknown said...

Omg just read this again and again cried... And I still love you so much xxxxx