Penpal Nation - Why Penpals

Hey Friends:

In one of my previous blog post, I alluded to the fact that I have created a group on Facebook called "Penpal Nation".  The creation of this group is my contribution to keeping the art of letter writing alive, as insignificant as this group might be in the galaxy of pen pal groups, sites, and organizations that exists!  Having said that, I think it is only natural to tell you why I like pen palling.

I read an article today, which stated, and I am paraphrasing here, that pen palling is no longer relegated to inmates.  Of course, I don't agree with this statement, because long before emails--which when you think about it, is not so long ago--people wrote letters, and they still do.  But, in my opinion, writing to pen pals was always around and popular, but it was not "glamorous" and "sexy" like emailing and textting.

I like pen palling because I like to write.  I much prefer writing a letter than talking on the phone, sending emails or textting.  Nowadays, sending letters by post is called "snail mail," which conjures up a slimy looking creature, with a shell on its' back, creeping ever so slowly along a wall, leaving a slimy secretion behind with a letter on it back!

When I sit down to write to a pen pal, it is pure joy!  I can be as creative as I want. I choose my own stationery or I can make my own! I can make the letter as long or as short as possible.  I can choose what I want to write about from a number of topics, many of my own choosing.  I get to know people from different nations, countries, culture, socio-economic backgrounds, races, sex, age groups-- learn about them, their country, and culture in detail.

I can also discuss hobbies that I have in common with a pen pal.  For example, I like to read, and so I  can discuss books I have read; authors whose writings I like to read again and again.  I can even  learn about authors whose writings I would never have heard about, had it not been for "penpalling."

In addition, I can exchange postcards, items of news that are interesting or even quirky, clippings of comic strips, crossword puzzles, maps, brochures, stickers, magazine articles, scrapbook items, greeting cards, even recipes, refridgerator magnets, key rings, the list is endless.

So writing to pen pals is not dead, it never was, and it gets more exciting everyday--at least in my view!