Friday, August 21, 2009

The Art of Letter Writing



Hello my friends, I miss a night of posting and I miss all of you. I always enjoy reading your comments as I drink my morning coffee and when there is no post, obviously there are few or no comments. So it's great to be with you tonight and hopefully tomorrow morning.

It has been a very long while since I have written a letter. Today, with super rates on long distance calls, e-mails, faxes and cell phones......seldom do I write anyone or even consider snail mail. Last week I received a letter from a friend of my sister's in Scotland. It was so nice to see my name hand written and read news of a friend in their own hand writing. I had forgotten how good it felt to receive and read a letter. Today I sat down and replied, I didn't click on reply or click on send. I just put a stamp on the envelope and mailed it.....and you know I really enjoyed writing a letter again, and watched as it slipped into the familiar red mail box off to another country, it's been a long time. I hope to do it again soon.

Yesterday I spent several hours with my friend at the hospital. Now I took my laptop and Internet Stick with me but I didn't have time to go online. In a room full of patients I was kept busy getting drinks of water, fixing pillows or a warm blanket. I enjoyed talking and laughing with everyone. The time went by fast and I am happy my friend made out very well and is home today feeling good and comfortable.

Yesterday as today was hot and humid. Early evening it became very still and quiet, the sky turned dark and it was just eerie. The TV screen turned red with warnings of tornado's, hail, thunder/lightning and heavy rain approaching. I began to get ready, just in case. Brought out the flashlight, candles, set logs by the fireplace, and placed extra water in the fridge. I could hear thunder in the distance and the hail and rain came soon behind. We didn't have any tornado's touch down but what was left of my small garden was absolutely crushed. The sad part was even after the storm the air was heavy and warm, no cool off at all. I went to sleep to the sound of my air conditioner.

Have a great Sunday everyone and may I asked you all for a small prayer for me and my family....there is an issue right now I feel only the Good Lord and prayers can resolve.

Good Night and God Bless and many, many hugs.....:-)

34 comments:

Brenda said...

Yes, dear Bernie, I did pray for you and your family and will ask God to remind me to keep praying. It is hard for me to sit down and write even notes. I must try to do a few--maybe one tonight.

Blessings,

Gail said...

Hi Bernie-

I was not surprised at the end of your post that you asked for prayers for a family issue. And of course I will do just that - pray that whatever is troubling you and yours have a good resolve. I immediately felt a heaviness when I began to read your post. And so I intuitively knew. And by the way - your blog design is lovely Bernie. I want to 'lighten mine' - make it softer some how but I have NO idea how to redesign it.

I am glad there was no tornado and I am impressed by how you prepare and get ready. I bet in your younger days you wer an excellent camper. :-)

And I completely understand how wonderful it feels to hand write a letter and actually mail it and also how special I feel if I receive a real letter or card. Much like the lovey hand-written card YOU sent me with items for "Hope-the tree".

My son surprised me and came home this evening. We had a wonderful dinner and just talked. He is home for several days before he has to be back in Brooklyn where he lives - however he teaches English in the South Bronx - seniors!!! - at the International High School. So I am thrilled to have him home with us for a few days.

I hope you have a wonderful Sunday Bernie and I will be praying hard.
Love to you
Gail
peace.....

Bernie said...

Brenda, thank you for your prayers for me and my family...I know it will work out in God's way.
I did enjoy writing my letter today, it felt really good.
Blessings to you my friend...Hugs

Anonymous said...

Bernie...I feel just like you...excited to receive a letter...but unlike you, I am not very expeditious about sending them. I love to get snail mail.
I also love pulling up my blog and seeing that I have a post waiting on my dashboard that you have put on the blog.
You look fabulous, my friend.
I will pray for you, and I hope that you will put me on your prayer list, too. I need those prayers. Life can be tough. I know who is making it that way. For a time, he roams to and fro here on this Earth....but only for a while. One day...one sweet glorious day, I will see my Saviour face to face...and He will put Satan where he belongs.
Until then, I enjoy the friendship of believers like yourself...and I do hope that you have a lovely remainder of the weekend and a great week next week.
Love to you,
Jackie

Wanda..... said...

It's not morning...but I almost typed Good morning Bernie, You and your family are certainly in my prayers...Hope the issue is resolved for the good quickly.

Loved the photo in your post...you are so right about letters, it could soon be a lost art...gone the way of the real ink pens with the pot of ink...and caligraphy writing is so beautiful...wish I could do that well...we send letters to my husband's brother that we type and print out...but he writes his to us in long hand.

I really like the look of your blog Bernie...it seems more you!
Hope you have a restful night,

Wanda

Bernie said...

Gail, you almost sound psychic....now do we have a psychic in our village.
So glad your son surprised you with a visit, his job sounds very challenging.
Gail, we did a lot of camping when the kids were little, and before that even with my parents in a tent no less. It was tons of fun and at times even now I miss it.
Have a great Sunday....:-) Hugs

Bernie said...

Jackie, I feel the same way when I see that you have a comment for me. It is so good to have you back.
Thank you for your prayers my friend, I so need them right now. Even if just to accept if not change our issue.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend ......:-) Hugs

Bernie said...

Good evening Wanda, (that does sounds different) thank you my friend for your kind words....I think my blog looks cleaned up and fresh and yes more like me, I still have something a little different in mind, just some tweaking but I am going to just enjoy this change for a while.
Thanks for your prayers Wanda, right now it's all I can think of to do.....they really help me to keep calm and keep everything in perpesctive.
I am having fun with the fun photo site that my friend shared with me. She is a real sweetie and if you knew her you would love her as I do.
Have a great Sunday, luv ya..Hugs

Eileen said...

Bernie, I am praying for your intentions and I hope everything is resolved soon. I hate to hear about any kind of upheaval in a family. You are so good and kind to everyone else and always keeping us in your prayers, I will surely keep you in mine.

Your weather sounds crazy lately! We've been getting quick storms too, but no tornadoes or warnings (not that I know of!), there were some in New Jersey but not here.
The sky was weird the other night, a red sky, rain, and a rainbow! Ray took pictures, I'll have to post them sometime. And the other day Jayden was hysterical laughing because it was pouring big drops of rain while the sun was shining, I told him it was a sun shower but it was more than just a passing shower!

I like the idea of letter-writing too, I'm such a procrastinator, but once I sit down to do it, I write a long letter! (Much like my posts and my comments!)
Well, it's 11:30 I better get to bed, we're getting up early to go fishing tomorrow.
Have a nice Sunday.
Love and Prayers,
Eileen

Bernie said...

Eileen, oh fishing sounds like so much fun. I hope you have good weather for it. I thought you were suppose to get high winds from Hurricane Bill....just stay safe.
Thanks for your prayers my friend, all are so welcome. I don't know why but I have always found it easier to pray for others than myself as I feel so blessed with my life, I almost feel guilty asking for more.
Enjoy your Sunday sweetie...Hugs

Marian Dean said...

Dear Bernie
You are such a dear to all around you.
May God's blessings be upon you. I am saying a BIG prayer for you.

Love Granny

Garnetrose said...

I will pray for you, Bernie. I hope you keep me in your prayers too. We can all use prayers and you know our family needs them too with problems with our eldest. I will remember you, that is for sure. I rarely write letters too but I love sending cards with little notes in them to my one friend, my daughter and my granddaugher. ( I know she is only 2. I scribble and I know she knows what I am writing. *s*)

Jinksy said...

Can't imagine what it's like to prepare for a tornado - but I guess it's a little like life. Hope for the best, and prepare for the worst! Positive vibes to you and yours from my corner of Blogland. xxx

Diana said...

Good Morning Bernie,
Ah the old snail mail! I still miss it. Believe it or not my older daughter still loves sending and receiving snail ,ail from us. Katie just mailed her a thank you card last week! And I just received a post card from her this week. It's fun but I can only write for short periods anymore so my letters have gotten much shorter!
Prayers for you and your family Bernie, Love you , Di

Anvilcloud said...

Do you mean that you ... gulp ... wrote in long hand? I seem to have forgotten how.

Tranquility Speaks said...

Good Morning Bernie! I wish God grants you whatever it is that you are looking for, and all unrest dies quickly. Be strong Bernie. You can get out of this as well!

Blessings each day said...

That picture you made of the pen, paper, photo etc. you put together was so beautiful, Bernie, I just loved it and it even had you and your new haircut...so very pretty!

I just received a nice long hand written letter in the mail on Friday and it was wonderful, like a special treat. I just sat and savored it.

Well, I will be praying for you and your family even more so as I go to Mass this morning. May God have His Hand on each and everyone in your family!

blessings and hugs,

marcy

Bernie said...

Thank you Granny, you are so kind. Have a wonderful Sunday....Hugs

Bernie said...

Garnet, you are so sweet to be sending notes/cards to people expecially your little granddaughter, yes I am sure she understands your scribble.
Thank you for the prayers Garnet, so appreciated.....Hugs

Bernie said...

Thanks Jinsky, tornado's are horrible and have harmed even killed people just a few years ago about 10 mins. from here. So sad really, nothing is ever the same for those involved, oh I do hope my family comes through all of this unscathed. Thanks Jinsky, have a wonderful Sunday and I hope you are well......:-) Hugs

Valerie said...

At one time I worried that I'd forgotten how to write. I rectified the matter, but still use the computer. Woe is me! You have my prayers, Bernie.

Bernie said...

Hi Di, yes the arthritis does make it harder to write now, I'm so glad you still snail mail your daughter, there is something about receiving a letter, it just feels good. Have a great Sunday Di, be well my friend.....:-) Hugs

Bernie said...

Oh A/C I know, it had been so long since I've written a letter but if I want another one I had to write in long hand (not a pretty thing to see) only hope he can read it!
Wishing you and cuppa a great holiday......:-) Bernie

Bernie said...

Hi Stillness, I know I will survive this, I always do but each challenge gets harder and harder to deal with. Need the prayers and the good Lord's help for sure. I could use my own Sai Babba for sure ......luv ya.....:-) Hugs

Bernie said...

Hi Marcy, thank you for your kind words, you can do these pictures as well, at fun photo's....it's really easy and lot's of fun.
Thanks for the prayers Marcy, I too am off to Mass shortly and will think of you......:-) Hugs

Bernie said...

Hi Val, thanks for the prayers my friend.
I know it felt strange to be writing and my hand did grow tired but it was a great feeling to receive that letter and I enjoy having a pen pal, I love my computer, could never be without one now though. Have a great Sunday.....:-) Hugs

Diana said...

Remember back in the day when you would get a bill or two and several letters and cards in your mail box? And now it's all bills and rarely a card or letter. No wonder the U.S.P.S. is in trouble!
Love Di

Bernie said...

Hi Di, I do remember the time when the mailman arrived was a big deal at our house...mom always would be right there at the door to take the mail out of the box as soon as the mailman was at the next house. It was always more bills than letters, now I seem only to get more and more flyers....such a waste of paper. I think technology has really advanced the world but there are some things it has taken over that I really miss.
Whoa am I blessed today or what, 2 comments from Lady Di....love it
Have a great day sweetie.....Hugs

The Retired One said...

I am so sorry that you have a heavy issue to deal with.
I wish you peace.
I hope prayers and love help you during this time of stress.

Margie said...

Bernie, I most certaintly will keep you & your family in my prayers!

I love getting letters in the mail and just this past month stared sending cards out to family & friends & included a note with each card!
My sister called me & told me how very happy she was to recieve my card & note!
And I got a nice letter back from her!

Bernie, hope you had a good weekend...take good care, my friend!
Joy & blessings to you!

Margie:)

Bernie said...

Hi Joan, Thank you for caring Joan, all will be well my friend. Support is a wonderful thing.
Luv you.....:-) Hugs

Bernie said...

Margie so glad have started cards and notes to your friends and family again. They are so nice to receive.
Thanks for your prayers sweetie, all are welcomed....:-) Hugs

Barb said...

Hi Bernie,
My best friend and I still write letters to each other occasionally, though we stay connected mostly by E-mail. I do think it's lovely to receive a hand written note. My daughters-in-law still send me hand written thank you's - I appreciate them.

Bernie said...

Barb, I love receiving letters and cards with handwritten notes. So nice that your DIL does this for you...great hearing from you my friend.......:-) Hugs