Madam – The words of a popular song are ‘memories are good friends when you’re lonely’, and I do not dispute this fact.
Unfortunately, this pastime, although emotionally fulfilling at that time, does not alter the present. As they say: don’t look back, you’re not going that way.
On the other hand harking back to times long gone can make you realise how some mundane and simple aspects of life have changed. Long before WhatsApp, and before email, writing letter writing was the time honoured method of keeping in contact.
People would await the arrival of the postman as he would be the bearer of that all-important letter from the love of your life.
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The young men doing their military service were especially vulnerable to ‘Dear John’ letters, as being away from home and with weekend passes not always guaranteed could mean that their lady love had moved on.
Girls took time with their letters, as they would fold the pages in a particular way, and perhaps give a dusting of perfume and HOLLAND on the back.
Receiving such perfumed correspondence was a special event, especially if you were quartered with other males.
Hand writing absorbed and illustrated the emotion of the writer, whereas the typed word is a mechanical reaction to finger pressure displaying nothing just cold fact, with the writer’s feelings hidden amongst the letters in the words.
Trevor Barnes
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