That’s right. January 8th through 14th is the official week for letter writing.

My friend Janie Carver clued me with her <a href="http://janiecarver2011.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/national-letter-writing-week-2014/" target="_blank">blog</a>.

Then Edie Melson listed Letter Writing Week in her <a href="http://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com/2014/01/calendar-daysholidays-special-days.html" target="_blank">January holidays blog</a>.

The intent of the weeklong observation is to
<p style="text-align:center;">W-R-I-T-E a letter</p>
with a pencil, chalk, marker, crayon or ink pen

not with your fingers on a keyboard or a touch screen.

That means you dig out some of that ancient stationery you’ve been meaning to pitch, grab a writing instrument and put words on the page.

<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/letterwriting.png"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4043" alt="letterwriting" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/letterwriting.png?w=150" width="150" height="104" /></a>No word-processed message.

No email message.

No text message.

No typewriter. (Do people even use those anymore?)

Not a clever card even if you add a personal message.
<p style="text-align:left;">I suggest a thank you for a Christmas gift, a hello to an aging friend or relative, a note of gratitude, or reconnecting with someone you haven't seen in a while.</p>
As a collector of vintage postcards, I find the handwritten notes on the cards dating back to the early 1900s touching.

<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4046" alt="pcard 1-f" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/pcard-1-f.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="224" />

Don't you wonder who <em>Dear "old girl" is?  </em>

Especially since he signed the card Brian and family.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/pcard2-f.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4047" alt="pcard2-f" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/pcard2-f.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="182" /></a>

No doubt these parents were thrilled to receive this postcard from their son Ralph.

Think what a treasure you’ll create when you participate in letter writing week.

I guarantee you’ll put a smile on someone’s face.

Now go write a letter.