Mail Me a Snail

With the current technological advances, a friend is always only an email or a cell phone call away. We've all gotten so used to instant gratification. There's nothing like being able to instantly catch up with a friend through a phone call or sending oodles of electronic information to someone in another time zone.

But this weekend, I was reconnected with a traditional form of communication -- snail mail. I received a package containing a greeting card, a chocolate lollipop, and a very cute bunny pen. I must admit that the entire package made me truly happy. Whether it was merely because of the fact that I received a package or if it was because it was from someone very special to me, I can't exactly pinpoint what the source of the happiness was. There's nothing like reading a greeting card and smiling like a fool the entire time. It's almost like reading a book. There's so much emotion and feelings involved in writing a greeting card that can be captured by the receiver of the card. The best part of the package was the fact that it was sent by someone that lives 5 miles away whom I talk to every single day. He was able to surprise me in such a way that it made me feel truly special.

I've always been a huge fan of instant gratification. Maybe it's been compounded from working in a very aggressive corporate environment, but I've never been the most patient person. But that package this weekend made me rethink the beauty of a handwritten letter or greeting card. Maybe I'll have to re-adopt the art form before the United States postal service decides to increase the cost of a postage stamp once again.