Wednesday February 6, 2008
Dear Sally,
Every year I quietly resolve to write real letters and every year I quietly fail. It’s the 6th of February and I haven’t written anything that started with ‘dear’ and included a postage stamp. I can rattle off a string of people I want to write to…people who deserve more than the convenience of e-mail, people I wish I saw more often. And still, no letters.
I have plenty of stationery. And if I just stopped thinking of other things that ‘need’ to be done, some days I really could write real letters. I have no excuse.
Clearly that’s why I’m posting it here, so I will not quietly fail this year, because one or two of you are bound to remember and in June I’ll be blogging away about how I’ve decided to take a three day weekend and sit in the park with a good book and you’ll tell me to pick up the flipping stationery and write a real letter. You will be right and I will be ever so thankful that you said so. So that’s why I’m saying this here. We’re all clear on that now.
As for why it’s related to today’s little notecard, admit it: you could do with writing a little letter now and then too. (Just nod and agree. It’ll make me feel better, and you’re all polite like that.)
click for print-sized card.
The trick for today is not to overthink, just review. Dear ___, Today was a nice day and I… Love, ___. That’s all for now. Nice and easy. No right, no wrong.
You know, that’s one of the best reasons to teach English instead of some other subjects: so rarely is there an actual wrong answer. Which is its own little kind of peace.
xlovesx
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6 February 2008, 19:35
I think maybe I would have enjoyed English more if someone like you had been my teacher. I always felt like there was a RIGHT and a WRONG answer, and more often than not I was felt like I was getting it wrong.
I definitely enjoyed today’s prompt. Yesterday’s too. Ironically, I had actually mostly written what I ended up using for my letter prior to reading the prompt.
I feel a little weird about continuing to post links to my responses here in the comments, but I feel like this step is part of my commitment to myself to actually DO these prompts, rather than just read them and think that I ought to being doing them. Whether or not anybody follows and read what I’ve written, I know that I’ve gotten them done, and that’s what counts.
6 February 2008, 20:10
English was my favourite (& best) subject at school – my English teacher was as inspirational as you – I wished (when you were still teaching full time) that you taught in the school I work in! I’d have sneaked IN to your lessons!
Love the challenges – and I do write letters – not very often – and not often enough I must admit – so I’ll try to do better if you will too!
Jen xx
6 February 2008, 22:54
My letter is written. Looking forward to shaking things up tomorrow.