The Power of Snail Mail
Just as I was marveling at the power of personal (postal) mail and pondering how to express my awe and wonder, I receive a parcel in the mail. I so dig it when the Universe listens to me!
In this modern age of electronic communication, of 3G, 3D, digital telephony, when legal papers may be arranged via Facebook, when a man is able to divorce his wife via SMS, when phone texting is already considered more personal than email, nothing quite beats the good old-fashioned, handwritten correspondence and packages by post.
Today, I received a thoughtful package from Delaware, USA, containing a 2-page hand-printed note that was caring and attentive, accompanied by a customised DVD of favourite films and personal playlists. Last week, it was Darrell Lea rocky road, and caramel fudge from a highschool friend in Sydney (a most well-intended surprise before I could post scribe to my previous entry that I now limit my sugar intake ) which I eagerly shared with friends. Just when I arrived in HK, this odd-eyed striped frog from Buones Aires showed up in a 'tough bag' courtesy of the Australia post. All penned notes enclosed, dispatched with love.
Over the last 1.5 years, I have received packages from afar, large and small, music compilations (direct from Warner Music HQ no less), books, lingerie (whether that works for other cancer patients, I can't say), more frogs and just enough greeting cards and letters that still leave me ecstatic with joy — literally clapping hands — every time I am the happy recipient of snail mail. The sheer surprise, the pure exhilaration from just knowing the time, effort and thought committed to the process of making it all a reality never ceases to elate me.
US First Class Mail International for postcards: US $0.94
Care package of handwritten note and/or chocolates/CD/DVD/hand lotion/book: under US $20
Intention, love, energy investment from initial idea to eventual delivery: P.R.I.C.E.L.E.S.S.
And I give as good as I get.
Some of you know I've always LOVED writing letters, even 'aerogrammes' way back when. From pen-pals in France to cousins in UK boarding schools as a teenager, and now addressing discrete PO boxes to entrusting Her Majesty's diplomatic bag to Sri Lanka, I've just never stopped writing. More to the point, I adore the sight of my own hand-writing: If I look good in print, I'm the bomb in long hand, especially love letters. Yes, the long distance kind, you know what I mean.
Through Chemo Angels, I also write at least once a week to a patient undergoing chemotherapy. Despite my increasing abhorrence for the treatment, I have only respect and empathy for those who are experiencing the effects of this toxic therapy, on top of the challenges brought on by cancer itself. With these, and once in a while, these (attitude attached), I write to my brave patients not with the expectation of a response, only the hope that my supportive messages bring a smile. Or a few.
While in Shanghai, I've especially enjoyed sending Chinese New Year greeting cards, partly because Christmas cards were never available until quite recently, but also because any one of the twelve animals for the year, in sheet metal stencil or paper cut renditions rank much higher in curio factor over the stocking, snow or Santa.
From the literal love I received today:
Be peace, be health, be the Rae of Light.
So, want to exchange mailing addresses?
In this modern age of electronic communication, of 3G, 3D, digital telephony, when legal papers may be arranged via Facebook, when a man is able to divorce his wife via SMS, when phone texting is already considered more personal than email, nothing quite beats the good old-fashioned, handwritten correspondence and packages by post.
Today, I received a thoughtful package from Delaware, USA, containing a 2-page hand-printed note that was caring and attentive, accompanied by a customised DVD of favourite films and personal playlists. Last week, it was Darrell Lea rocky road, and caramel fudge from a highschool friend in Sydney (a most well-intended surprise before I could post scribe to my previous entry that I now limit my sugar intake ) which I eagerly shared with friends. Just when I arrived in HK, this odd-eyed striped frog from Buones Aires showed up in a 'tough bag' courtesy of the Australia post. All penned notes enclosed, dispatched with love.
US First Class Mail International for postcards: US $0.94
Care package of handwritten note and/or chocolates/CD/DVD/hand lotion/book: under US $20
Intention, love, energy investment from initial idea to eventual delivery: P.R.I.C.E.L.E.S.S.
And I give as good as I get.
Some of you know I've always LOVED writing letters, even 'aerogrammes' way back when. From pen-pals in France to cousins in UK boarding schools as a teenager, and now addressing discrete PO boxes to entrusting Her Majesty's diplomatic bag to Sri Lanka, I've just never stopped writing. More to the point, I adore the sight of my own hand-writing: If I look good in print, I'm the bomb in long hand, especially love letters. Yes, the long distance kind, you know what I mean.
Through Chemo Angels, I also write at least once a week to a patient undergoing chemotherapy. Despite my increasing abhorrence for the treatment, I have only respect and empathy for those who are experiencing the effects of this toxic therapy, on top of the challenges brought on by cancer itself. With these, and once in a while, these (attitude attached), I write to my brave patients not with the expectation of a response, only the hope that my supportive messages bring a smile. Or a few.
While in Shanghai, I've especially enjoyed sending Chinese New Year greeting cards, partly because Christmas cards were never available until quite recently, but also because any one of the twelve animals for the year, in sheet metal stencil or paper cut renditions rank much higher in curio factor over the stocking, snow or Santa.
From the literal love I received today:
Be peace, be health, be the Rae of Light.
So, want to exchange mailing addresses?