When I was growing up, my relatives would always send a card for my birthday. So, until I was about twelve years old, I would open the card and just shake the money out. I'm going to assume everyone does that to make myself feel a little less guilty. Anyways, as I've gotten older I've gotten a lot less mail. I think it's because everything is now done electronically and a lot of people are too busy to stop by the post office... or even lick an envelope. But, even though most of us have grown up in a digital age, there's something that's always been exciting about opening an unexpected letter.

My best friend moved away right before high school. We would Skype a lot, but I always loved getting a letter from her. She would tell me more personal things that were happening because it was more comfortable writing it down than saying it out loud. We would draw pictures and send them too and keychains or stickers. They were nice to come home to.

Once my friends from high school and I split up for college, we started writing letters and sending handmade bracelets in envelopes. It's hard to schedule time to talk on the phone between classes, work, and different time zones. Writing letters allows us to update each other without feeling rushed. And, especially on a bad day, I love getting an unanticipated letter from a good friend.

To me, sending a text or making a call is easy. But, a letter takes time and thought. To receive a page or two on what my friends are up to on the other side of the country means a lot to me. Packages are also a treat, especially when they're food. I mentioned to my mom recently that I had run out of snacks and the next day I got a notification saying I had received a package. It lets me know that even if I'm not "home," my mom is still my mom and won't let distance get in the way of stuffing me full of junk.

Getting mail has always been exciting for me, but even more so now that I'm so far away from my home and friends. My friends who are in college have birthdays coming up. I know they don't have family around, so I plan on making care packages to let them know I miss them. A short letter goes a long way.