Just a girl and her typewriters
It was a quiet evening in Calgary. Maybe it was the snow coming down that muted everything, but as I lugged my typewriters out of the car and into my local Good Earth Café . I wondered if it would just be me hanging out at my Letter Writing Social.
For the first half hour, if you had walked into the café you would have heard me before your saw me, as I was the crazy girl banging away on the typewriter. Although it was a magnet for conversation, no-one stayed.
People showed up
So, I did what any sane person would do, I hightailed it out of there…no, not really, I jest. But, let’s be honest, the thought crossed my mind. Thankfully it was fleeting at best, as a few people started to trickle in and before I knew it, there were eight people gathered around the table, some with a glass of wine in hand, all excited to get busy writing some Christmas cards.
A young crowd showed up to write letters
It was a fantastic evening! In fact, it exceeded all of my expectations. I had hoped that just one letter loving soul would join me. As I observed the group a few things surprised me. First, the average age was probably 25 years young. And men dominated. One young guy actually texted two of his buddies to come out and join him, that’s how jazzed about it he was.
A bunch of hipsters
Now, if you are like my teenage girls, when I told them this, at first they didn’t believe me and then they asked me if the guys were…hmmm, how to phrase this politely…less than ‘popular.’ I set them straight sharing that the young fellows, who were completely smitten with the typewriters (I’m not even exaggerating, they asked to stay well beyond the finishing time), were a bunch of hipsters writing letters and cards to their girlfriends.
Snail mail worked its charm
The other thing I was unprepared for was the enthusiasm for writing letters, the stamps, the whole idea of sending someone some mail. After explaining some basics on how to use the typewriter (that there is no delete key, how to make a number 1, where to find the backspace key) the conversation was rich with anecdotes of mail received as kids or how some still send snail mail today. They fully admitted that the charm of snail mail is hard to resist.
Hand made cards ruled the day
Those in the ‘crowd’ were also way more into crafting their cards than I had expected. You can see from some of the pictures that some really creative, beautiful cards were made. I had brought along some supplies to make cards, but also store bought cards. The DIY option won out, hands down.
Risks are worth taking
And so, chapter one of my Letter Writing Social was concluded with much merriment and fun. Taking a risk is difficult, but it is definitely worth it, because you just never know who might show up. What I loved the most was seeing people discover and be charmed by snail mail. My people indeed.
Stay tuned for dates and details on Letter Writing Social – Chapter Two. It will be held again at the Good Earth Café, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Please join me if you can. I’ll be the one with the typewriter.
I love the photos and the whole concept. So cool!
So wish you could join us Glenda. Next one is Feb 4th, you free? 😉
Love this and so happy it was such a great turnout! Can’t wait to hear about the Valentine’s Day letter-writing social – sounds perfect…I definitely don’t want to miss it!!
Hi there Theresa, Sure do hope you can join us on Feb 4th. Check back here tomorrow for more details. Thanks so much for all your support! 😉
It’s such a wonderful thing to see young people, especially young men, become so engaged in the act of making their own snail-mail cards, and to be so interested in using typewriters! In this day and age, when the convenience of smartphones and the internet usually trumps deliberate and focused acts of creating something tangible, what a relief it is to find that there is still a deep yearning in many to get involved in such things as your Letter Writing Social. We need more of these types of gatherings to combat the dangerous addiction our society has with the alienating distractions inherent in our ubiquitous technology.
Lynn, your words so eloquently describe my hope and reason for the Letter Writing Social(s). I was so encouraged to see the interest from the younger set, and had a lot of fun with them too. I do hope they come back. 🙂 Wish you could join me on the next one. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the importance backing away from our digital devices.
I would absolutely love to join you on the next one. But, alas, I live too far away (New Mexico, in fact). Perhaps I will look into seeing if there are any Letter Writing Socials here in my city. Or maybe even form my own. I love to put my typewriters to use. I have four of them and do plan on getting more. I find it hard to walk away from a typewriter whenever I see one at a rummage sale or consignment shop.
Hi there Lynn, Four typewriters! I am all green with jelly 😉 I can completely relate to not being able to walk away when you see one…I’m the same way. I wish you were closer and could come…but love that you might form your own Letter Writing Social. I think this is a stellar idea, one worth pursuing for sure.Let me know what transpires. Thanks so much for taking the time to pop in for a visit.
That is such a cool idea. I think I just found a new project for 2016….start my own letter writing social! While I don’t have a typewriter the handwritten cards would be a great thing to offer to the community. Thank you for your great ideas and inspiring others to branch out and take a chance. Stephanie from South Carolina.
Hi there Stephanie, Thanks for reading along and I have to tell you, I can’t wait to hear about your own 2016 Letter Writing Social! Do come back and tell all; no doubt you will inspire many to give snail mail a try. 🙂