 |
| Source |
The other day, while my Mom was going through some things, she came across some love letters that my Dad had written to her while they were dating back in 1961. The tenderness and love these letters conveyed was heartwarming and now that he is gone, it makes them so much more special.
Nowadays, in this world of technology, hand written love letters are almost unheard of. Love letters can now be emailed, faxed, and even sent overnight to lovers separated by oceans and continents.
The problem with an email is that it's not tangible. You can't pick it up and feel the weight of the paper, or smell it, or trace the curve of the handwriting. You can tell so much about a person from their handwriting. An electronic font will never replicate that.
Throughout history, the love letter has allowed us to reveal our true feelings, keep close when far away from home and rekindle the flame when love is no longer new. It's the glue in the book of romance.
The love letter has been composed and treasured for centuries and the earliest may perhaps be the Bible’s Song of Solomon. But, as a literary form, the love letter probably began in the early Renaissance. The Age of Chivalry produced a series of discreet correspondences that were based on chaste compliments and excessive self-deprecation of courtly love.
In the early eighteenth century, love letters became much more personal, showing tenderness, charm, and even humor.
The nineteenth century spawned the great private love letters of Beethovan to his “Immortal Beloved”, as well as the literary romance of poets Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett.
Clearly, the love letter has evolved through the ages, only to become more treasured and meaningful in the present day.
In this hurried, often thoughtless world, a love letter shows that someone cares enough to carve out time, to sit, be present with his or her thoughts and emotions, and then to commit those feelings to paper.
In this hurried, often thoughtless world, a love letter shows that someone cares enough to carve out time, to sit, be present with his or her thoughts and emotions, and then to commit those feelings to paper.
So, why don't you give it a try? Put pen to paper and write your feelings down for your loved one. I think it will be appreciated, and may even be reciprocated. Then, in the years that follow, it will be a treasured remembrance of your great love.
Ive never written any love letters, but I used to write letters to friends when I was in middle school. i loved reading and writing letters to them. I still have them somewhere.
ReplyDeleteThats cool that you and your friends wrote each other. Its always fun going back to see what you said then or what you were thinking about at that time in your life.
DeleteAhhh I love LOVE letters. And there is something special about words via pen and paper. Glad your mom has those to remember him by :) xox
ReplyDeleteIt really is, and they were so sweet and heartwarming. We all just sat around and cried while reading them just remembering what a loving man he was.
DeleteMy hubby and I began dating in 1986 - before texting, mobile phones and internet too. We began writing when he was away for three months, and continued until we moved into together three years later - I had almost forgotten until you reminded me. The letters were destroyed in a flood, sadly. He was so romantic! I may have to start again.....ty xx
ReplyDeleteSad that you lost them in a fire! My husband and I used to write letters to each other as well and he will still sometimes leave me little notes but nowadays we do more texting than anything. We really need to get back to the pen and paper version though so I can have them always.
DeleteThat is so incredibly sweet!! There is nothing more romantic than someone who is either interested in you to write you a love note or letter.
ReplyDeleteThis was such an wise, heartwarming, completely lovely read. Tony and I swapped handwritten love letters (amongst the emails, yes) when we first started dating, as we were on separate continents initially. Had we not had such a whirlwind romance and married after seven months, I suspect we would have kept penning them. In a way we still have, though we've been together for all intents throughout that time, so they usually show up as notes in cards, instead of mailed from afar.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this post, sweet Denise. Thank you very much for starting February on such a beautiful (love) note.
♥ Jessica