Pen Pals Are They Extinct?

I ask you. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone? Was it yesterday? Was it last year? Do you still have a pen pal? Are pen pals extinct?

I remember writing many letters to my friends and family when I was younger. But, as soon as I got my first computer that soon disappeared. My letters didn't disappear but how I wrote and sent them did. First, I started using a word processor and a printer to write my letters. And, then I mailed it.

Then as soon as I had internet and email guess what happened next? Gone was the walk to the nearest mailbox and the purchasing of stamps. If I had to write someone an email was the answer. Especially when an email became increasingly the preferred method to write to someone. Can you remember when the last time someone said, "Can you send me a letter?" Usually it is, "send me an email." In business, hundreds and hundreds of emails are sent every day.

Now, emails are in competition with text messages. Me personally, I don't care for text messaging. But, I do receive some on occasions. I'll stick with the emails for now.

What have we lost from letter writing? Gone is the pen. Your digits are now your pen. Paper is not needed any more. Yes, we are saving many trees. That's a benefit. The necessary walk to the mailbox is out. There goes some physical exercise and maybe a possible chat with a neighbor. The needed stamp is gone too. Stamps are going up again. Maybe the email is making the stamp extinct

On a side note, Most companies are going paperless these days. If everyone goes paperless than the letter in the mail will probably be extinct. The U.S. postal service may not be able to survive if that happens.

I only see one victim here. Guess who that is? It's the one person who doesn't use computers. Maybe they never wanted to bother with it or they just preferred not to learn about computers. I can think of three people right now that don't use computers. I know one person who uses a typewriter to write his letters. He refuses to give it up even though he knows how to use a computer.

As I am writing this I just realized that there was one person many years ago that used to look forward to my letters from me. And, I didn't realize it until now. Because she did not use a computer I called her on the phone more often instead of writing a letter.

So, after writing this maybe I'll send a letter to someone. Maybe you should too.