Communication the old fashion way

imported
#1

Does anybody still write to friends and home with pad and pencil or is that a thing of the past?? Also, any recomendations for what type of cell phone is the best, coming from an old fart who learned computers on punchcards???

Snowdog

#2

There is no way I could get out enough cards and letters to remain in touch with all of my friends, especially trail friends if I had to actually write. Not to mention the postage. Hell, now a days my daughters talk to me more online then they do on the phone, no long distance fees. I absolutely love email and the way I can stay in touch woth so many, so often. Yes, I still like to send personal cards on special occasions and events, but on the whole email is the way I go. Sue/HH:girl

Hammock Hanger

#3

I have a cell phone, regular phone, cordless phone, internet, etc, & use them; they are wonderful…and yet I still think nothing is more lovely than a hand written note. No,I don’t write them as often as I used to, but I still do; & value them when I get them (as long as they don’t sound generic!) I truly enjoy the ease of the internet, it’s a magical e-world out there…but a handwritten letter is so special. As far as your 2nd ?, I don’t know what’s good, but I do know that while my Sprint ph. is fine in major cities or along major hwys, it would NOT work for the trail; as I THINK Sprint’s towers are not placed anywhere but along major areas of travel…& that’s non hiking kind of travel, unfortunately. Good luck.

Amana

#4

what i have been doing is when i resupply and have all those cardboard boxes i rip them into post cards and recycle what can’t be used. slap a stamp on them and a small greeting and the folks back home will think that you are king of the trail. especially older people, like grandparents, mine apparently haul the cards i have sent to them around in their purse. the size of a poptarts box still takes a 23 cent stamp but anything bigger requires a 37 cent stamp. when in doubt, i just slap a 37 on there. have a good one.
OT

Officer Taco

#5

Hammoch Hanger is right,there is no way I could or can make contact with my hiking friends,other than email.The special people in my life still get letters and cards that are hand written.Plus,I’ve come in contact with kin that I didn’t know I had,until I received an email from them.I still send hand written letters to my senior English teacher.I keep expecting to get them back with the usual D- grade I use to receive.She is so delighted to hear from all her students,she has thrown her red pen away.Spent a great day at Yosemite.Day hiked the short but rough trail from the Valley to the top of Yosemite Falls.
Spring run off has filled all of the falls in Yosemite.Sorry I drifted away from the subject matter.
Happy Easter everyone…:boy

Bill Harris

#6

Hey, I remember when I was a kid(some 40 years ago!!) my dad, a (now retired)electrical engineer used to bring home tons of those punch cards!! In fact, I found one yesterday!! That said, I didn’t learn how to do e-mail, etc. until 2003; now I find it’s a great way to keep in touch. However, that doesn’t preclude "snail-mail"which, as others here have noted,holds special significance and should continue to be used for special times.

Mini-Mosey

#7

I saw a really nice one at"Toys are us" its plastic,hollow and full of air. Dosent even squeek when you squeeze it.

Virginian

#8

As with many people on this forum, I find e-mail is an excellent way to stay in touch with friends. However, hardly anyone in my family (meaning parents, various aunts and uncles, and my two Grandmothers) use e-mail. All the cousins on Mom’s side of the family (16…talk about a large Catholic family! ) and my two brothers now use e-mail.

Since moving to Colorado four years ago, I have acquired the habit of writing my two grandmothers monthly. From what my Mom told me, Grandma saves every letter I write. It is amazing what a simple letter can do for someone. E-mail is not as personal. Something about taking the time to write a letter, placing the stamp on the envelope and mailing it shows some thoughtfulness. As someone else noted, letters seem to be somehow be more significant.

On the trail, I make a habit of sending postcards to my close friends, brothers, parents and grandmothers. Keep everyone else informed via my on-line journal. Would hate to write 20+ postcards saying the same thing!

So send a letter, not just on the trail, to those you care about every once in a while. Something about a letter is just so meaningful.

Mags

ps. On a side note, was lucky enough to know all four of my grandparents growing up. My grandfathers did not pass away until a few years ago. Was a great way to grow up (lots of cousins, aunts and uncles. Having the grandparents part of our lives. ) Being almost 30, consider it a blessing to have two grandmothers still living. I may be 2000 miles away, but figure it is the least I can to send a letter telling my grandmothers what I’ve been up to. :slight_smile:

Mags