Connecting Via USPS

A couple of years ago I posted an entry about The Art of Letter Writing in which I pointed out that I had done something very unusual for me. I had written a letter. Since that blog post, something has happened in my life that motivates me to write a letter every weekday. Pen in hand, I make use of a skill I learned in third grade from slave-driver, Mrs. Hodgekinson, who illogically connected the successful completion of writing assignments to the privilege of recess.

The “something” that happened in my life is that our youngest grandson, Ben Powers, became a marine recruit. Now in California, he will be in training and totally isolated from the outside world for thirteen weeks. No phones, computers, iPads, iTunes, video games, newspapers, magazines, television, or cars. His only connection with family and friends is via USPS.

As much as the recruiters try to prepare these young people for technology withdrawal, they have to be feeling a big void in their lives. So there is no way I will take the easy way out and type a letter on my computer. Each morning I pray for Ben and the other recruits, and I write a letter. As I write, I hope that a little information about the boring lives of two old people who live in Olathe, Kansas, will communicate my love to Ben.

It makes me sad when I read a post on the Company site that informs us there is a recruit who has not, during the first five weeks of training, received a single letter. This serves as a reminder to me that some young people grow up without the love and support of family. Caring mothers of other recruits have made additional time during their days to write to these lonely young men.

Pray for our military and, if you know someone who is serving, jot them a note of encouragement. I’ve even heard, but have no supporting evidence, that writing things in cursive will help to keep one’s brain healthy.

Platoon Guidon, Ben, Dad (Dale), Mom (Kayce), and brother (Michael)