Letters As History: Brothers Get Postal

Ok.  I love what I am about to share with you.  About a year ago, my two sons began a letter writing adventure.  I'm not sure who got  the ball rolling...but I believe it was Benji. He was bored one day, and  as any good Snail Mail blogging mother would do, I told him to go write a letter to his older brother!   Now you have to understand  that Benji was only 11 (# 9 child) when he started writing his big brother Zach (who happens to be # 2 child of our 10).  Benji is a bundle of energy, so letter writing would seem to be the LAST thing he would be doing, as it would appear to be so contrary to his nature.

There is a 14 year age difference, so when Zachary moved away to attend college, Benji was only  about 3 years old.  This activity is a great way for my son to get to know his older brother who is a full- time fire fighter,  and paramedic.

 About once a month, they get a letter off in the mail to each other.  I don't know exactly what they discuss, as I haven't been privy to any of the letters, but Benji tells me that they discuss music, what Zach's little boy is up to, and a host of other things.

I asked Zach to share some of his insights  (Johnny is another older brother he refers to):

So often it can be hard to keep in touch with family after you move out of the house. Sure, you can call them up on the phone every once in awhile, but you don't always get the intimate details of every one's lives that way. I started writing Johnny while in college... it was a way we got to keep in touch. You get a chance to share more minute and intimate details in letters because you get a chance to actually sit down and think about what you say before you say them. You also feel more free to say certain things as opposed to in person because you don't feel bad/awkward like you would if you were having the same conversation in person.

From Johnny, I moved on to writing Benji. I saved everyone of Johnny's letters and I save everyone of Benji's too. I like looking back on what we talked about, to see how things have changed since the time of the letter. It's funny and sad and weird how some things change over time. We talk about everything... work, school, friends, family, chores. One major common theme from Johnny and Benji is that they both love talking about music. So every letter ends with swapping song recommendations. We will write a list of songs we are enjoying at the time and share these, and then comment on the other person's recommendations.  I like to share uplifting and encouraging songs. I also share secular selections, but I think that this is important as well because they are catchy, fun enjoyable songs but they aren't dirty or trashy.

I love getting and writing letters to Benji. I feel just a little more connected not just to him but the family by doing so.

Thanks, Zachary for sharing your letter writing relationship with your kid brother.  I hope this will encourage young men or young ladies to take an interest in another young person in their lives.  It could make all the difference in this journey of life.

One thing I observed and was surprised with is the fact that they each save their letters!  I find this fascinating and wonderful!  Yay!  One day their children may end up reading these letters...because these writers thought to: first, write a letter and secondly, to save it~ the two key elements to making Letters As History.

"The one good thing about not seeing you is that I can write you letters."

~~~Svetlana Allilyeva

Write Letters,

Write Often,

Lady Pamela