by Santi Meintjes

Created on: June 16, 2009

Postal mail still exists even though it was predicted years ago that paper would disappear as a means of communication. The reason why paper has not disappeared has a lot to do with legislation a hard copy document is still the most valid means of drawing up contracts, deeding a title to land, proving ownership, and so on. This is of course not true of casual communication.

In the past the only way to communicate with somebody out of earshot was to send a message either verbally (a messenger in the Roman Armies was a vital although apparently not always appreciated occupation) or written down on papyrus, clay tablets, stones, vellum or some such medium. Paper was known in the East long before the West, but eventually all of the mediums used for written communication were replaced by paper.

Letter writing, not for strategic or business purposes, but as a means of casual communication, was greatly enhanced by the ubiquitous availability of paper. Many historical facts, biographical details, and exploration sagas have been gleaned from letters written to friends, family or colleagues, especially during the eighteen hundreds. Some love letters have become famous because of the parties involved, and also in many cases because of the beauty of the prose contained in these records of loves gained and lost.

Why bother to write letters today? The postal mail is not known as snail mail because of the nice alliteration. Cell phone sms's and emails are so much quicker and more convenient and can reach anybody anywhere almost instantaneously. Plus one could say that trees are saved by using electronic instead of paper communication.

Arguably one would not use postal mail as a regular means of communication. However, there are occasions when a written word is more appropriate than electronic, otherwise we wouldn't be seeing greeting cards and postcards still being sold, surely? It is again quick and convenient but more personal than email to buy and send a card for weddings, anniversaries, births, deaths, and so on. In fact, some card publishers boast that they have a card for every occasion, and they mean it too!

But cards are not equivalent to letters. So, back to letter writing. What would impress a woman the most receiving a long email with emoticons from her lover to express his love, obviously written during office hours and sent from his office email address, or a hand-written letter on thin paper in her favourite colour, every word laboriously sculpted to ensure legibility (no words struck through so he must have written a few drafts first), carefully sealed with the postage stamp exactly aligned in the upper right hand corner? She knows it took time and effort after all he had to specially go to a post box to mail it and no man is going to do that unless he is sincere.

You decide. And if the thought of receiving such a gift of love thrills you, send one yourself. Just think how surprised and pleased your mother would be to receive a long letter telling her of all the little non-events in your life?

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