People don’t write letters much anymore. In a world of tweets, texts, and emojis, letters seem slow and antiquated. And yet, there is something exciting about finding a hand written note in the mailbox! It says someone actually took the time to find stationery, sit down, and write a few thoughts on paper. Wow.
I’m not the only one who believes this. If I were, we all wouldn’t spend precious time and money sending holiday cards every year. There’s something about a hard copy card and a hand written note that we just can’t give up. But I’d argue that hand written notes, and the stationery we pen them on, should have a place all the time, not just December.
Written letters connect us across time and distance. My daughter exchanges lengthy letters with her Nana, and she’s learned many interesting things about my mother in law through this pen-pal relationship. Best of all, she will always have Nana’s letters to turn to for stories and wisdom. My grandmother and mother passed out of my life years ago, but I still have letters from each of them that I treasure. It’s especially nice having samples of their handwriting, unique and personal remnants of their lives.
So, for a Word Nerdy gift this holiday season, I suggest personalized stationery. You can lose hours researching stationery on the Internet, so let me save you some time. I found the most affordable customizable stationery at Zazzle.com, but it doesn’t come with envelopes. (I’m just gonna pick up some invitation sized envelopes at Walmart.) If you’re willing to pay more, you can find classy and stylish stationery and cards at tinyprints.com and vistaprint.com, envelopes included. Expect to pay at least $1-$2 per sheet/card, and look for holiday promotions.
Word Nerd Note: Up until a few months ago, I didn’t realize that stationery, or writing paper, is spelled differently than stationary, the adjective that means “lack of movement”. Stationery comes from the noun stationer, which is a person or store that sells stationery; years ago stationer meant bookseller or publisher. When you need help with spelling, remember that paper has “er” in it, and so does stationery. (For more interesting facts about words, visit Kathy at Bermuda Onion for Wondrous Words Wednesday.)
What are your thoughts on writing letters, and would you like to give or receive personalized stationery as a gift?
Thanks for sharing!
The first part of the plan errs on the “nerdy” side; it’s a spreadsheet. Yes, I actually have a spreadsheet that I use each year to help me remember who I need to buy gifts for and what I’d like to give them. It takes just a few minutes to whip up this gift guide, with a column for names, a column for ideas and a small column for “Yes, did that!”. If you have a lot of loved ones you like to remember at the holidays, but struggle to actually remember all them, make a spreadsheet and fill in the blanks. It will give you a huge sense of accomplishment.
