Sent with a kiss
How many of us still hand write our correspondence? How about our love letters?
Last month a letter written by Napolean to his beloved Josephine reputedly sold for 276,000 pounds (556,000 USD or 409,000 euros). In the letter he wrote:
The last time I penned a letter to my love was, I think, nearly fifteen years ago, when we were travelling separately through Europe. Before parting in Canada, we decided to "see other people" — actually, it was more my idea than his, the imagined muted clang of wedding bells throwing me into a tailspin — and he took the opportunity to barrage me with letters while I traipsed hither and yon.
I have the letters still. Several years ago they survived a flood while they were in my grandfather's keeping — I was gallivanting around Europe again, this time with my beau in tow — thanks to my mother who took it upon herself to dry every single sheet. She has photos of the collection carefully laid out throughout her living room and dining room. I shudder to think of the hours she spent perusing the contents. I wonder if that's why I no longer put pen to paper. Less evidence.
I do, however, send my husband emails when he's abroad, each sealed with a kiss — or rather "sent" with a kiss — by way of the letter "X". I sometimes throw in an odd "O" (hug) as well. Do you seal/send your letters/emails with a kiss? And do you have a collection of love letters (hard copies, that is)? Do you intend to hold on to them? Perhaps bequeath them to your children or grandchildren?
I figure it's bad enough that my mother has read the outpourings of my husband's love. I can't imagine passing the missives on to my daughter.
Last month a letter written by Napolean to his beloved Josephine reputedly sold for 276,000 pounds (556,000 USD or 409,000 euros). In the letter he wrote:
"I send you three kisses — one on your heart, one on your mouth and one on your eyes."I myself barely manage to scrawl a few lines in a card on our wedding anniversary.
The last time I penned a letter to my love was, I think, nearly fifteen years ago, when we were travelling separately through Europe. Before parting in Canada, we decided to "see other people" — actually, it was more my idea than his, the imagined muted clang of wedding bells throwing me into a tailspin — and he took the opportunity to barrage me with letters while I traipsed hither and yon.
I have the letters still. Several years ago they survived a flood while they were in my grandfather's keeping — I was gallivanting around Europe again, this time with my beau in tow — thanks to my mother who took it upon herself to dry every single sheet. She has photos of the collection carefully laid out throughout her living room and dining room. I shudder to think of the hours she spent perusing the contents. I wonder if that's why I no longer put pen to paper. Less evidence.
I do, however, send my husband emails when he's abroad, each sealed with a kiss — or rather "sent" with a kiss — by way of the letter "X". I sometimes throw in an odd "O" (hug) as well. Do you seal/send your letters/emails with a kiss? And do you have a collection of love letters (hard copies, that is)? Do you intend to hold on to them? Perhaps bequeath them to your children or grandchildren?
I figure it's bad enough that my mother has read the outpourings of my husband's love. I can't imagine passing the missives on to my daughter.
Labels: Eva
posted by Eva at 2:35 pm
3 Comments:
We don't have a lot of letters, but we do have a collection of cards.
I save all my cards from my darling husband. And before he went for semi-retirement, he used to put some of my cards to him on display--how's that for answering the "Did you like the card?" question.
My favorites are the Hallmark cards that sing. I sent him one that crooned "I've got a crush on you" and occassionally, I'd get a phone call and when I picked up, the card would be playing.
As for passing them on, you know, I'd never thought about it...maybe the grandkids, should we ever have any, but I can't see my kids chomping at the bit to get the breathless prose from mom and dad.
I have a huge box of letters that my husband and I wrote to eachother while we were still dating. We lived five hundred miles apart so we only saw eachother once every few months when he could find a ride and get the time off work. So the bulk of our courtship was by letter and phone. The letters are stored chronologically in an air tight plastic box to keep them dry and safe. Once every couple of years I'll get them out and read through them. It renews that fresh young love we had and reminds me of it when things seem so difficult and crazy in the here and now.
Oh, so sweet! Both of you (and your men) are true romantics.
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