I’ve been watching “The Pacific” on HBO with my family. What stories our “Greatest Generation” has to share. Through the series, from time-to-time a soldier will receive a letter from home, and read it to his buddies. Other times, he may read aloud a letter that he’s writing to his girl back home. The lesson to us is to write letters, … and save them. Sometimes these personal letters will shine a light on who we were and what we were experiencing, feeling, living.
One nice thing about the advent of email is that we’re all writing more than we have in the past. It’s easy. It’s expected. But, it’s temporary. It’s erased. Okay, I’m going to go against today’s conventional wisdom, and suggest you print-out some of the more meaningful exchanges. Keep a file someplace. A shoe box maybe. Keep those emails that tell who you are and what you’re experiencing.
And, dare I say, … Write an occasional letter by hand. Keep a copy in your file or shoe box. Ten, twenty, thirty years from now, you’ll be glad you did. And guess what? Your kids and grandkids will read every word!
My deepest respect and admiration go out to the heros of our country who have fought for our freedom and the American way of life. Thank you for your service.
