A lost art...

...and a window of opportunity!

Letter writing is the only device for combining solitude with good company
~Lord Byron

One of my wishes for this year had been to receive handwritten notes from people, those that normally communicate over e-mediums like email, chat and phone calls. And bless their hearts, quite a few indulged in my simple demand. I cannot begin to describe the pure joy of seeing a handwritten letter in these 21st century days when the mailbox is either filled with junk or bills, neither of which makes checking the mailbox an enticing proposition. One thing that has remained over these years is the fact that there is no guarantee that postal mail will reach a person on a designated day. So through the week I have been receiving these gems and every evening has been a delightful read. As I settle down on my couch with some green tea, the TV remote stays sadly neglected while I tuck in and get ready to flow like a smooth river riding the waves of words that the sender has delivered. Its fascinating to see oneself grin at reading some of the funny lines, concentration at what comes next, what emotion the next line will evoke and what the writer was thinking when s/he penned those lines. Some letters require an instant re-read, some need to be revisited in a few hours, some you pull out and gloss over just to relive the feeling.

I can imagine how it might have been in those days when letters was the primary medium of communication. Every emotion had to be recorded else there was no other way of letting the other person know until a face to face meeting happened.

Then one sits down to return the favor. I speak for myself, but it took a few rough drafts to get used to the feeling of holding a pen and writing. One gets so used to typing and of course the "feature" of backspace. That does not exist when one writes a letter. Striking out words and letters tarnishes the beauty of it. And as one begins to respond, one wonders how the recipient might react and what s/he might say.

These have been a sampling of what this experience has delivered to me. It totally warrants a big THANK YOU to all that indulged me. It was totally worth it and this art should certainly not allowed to become extinct. I present a collage of sepia toned penning.

Letters are among the most significant memorial a person can leave behind them
~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe






SP is a good friend of mine, an art therapist and artist in her own right. One of her skills is that she delivers a modern day twist to Tanjore paintings and this painting of hers has been my all-time favorite. When she told me some months ago that she had sold it, I was heartbroken. I'd been making secret plans to buy it for myself. It is my favorite for many reasons. One, I love the way she has modernized traditional Tanjore paintings which are usually of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Secondly, I love the title of the painting and the subject itself. What a wonderful connection. The entire package gleams of hope. There is no doubt one can sense the feeling of liberation that the silhouette must be imagining as she gazes out of the window. So here I present, a 'Window of opportunity' and thus I render my thanks to SP. I am honored and forever grateful for receiving this.




















Miscellany : A coworker of mine gives me this card :

Outside : Girl in a shoe store, checking out the price tag and shrieks "You've got to be kidding me!"
Inside : "I wish you joy, happiness and clearance shoes in your size"

I'd like that! All year through, what more could I ask for?