Yesterday I wrote about Benjamin Franklin and libraries. It seems I am not done with Ben. His accomplishments--from inventing bifocals to the rocking chair, from his work with electricity to serving as America's ambassador to France--continue to fill me with awe.
One of his lesser known roles was as postmaster. As postmaster, Franklin established the first national communications network. What a boon he gave the fledgling nation, to connect people over vast distances.
In today's world of emailing and texting, blogging and Facebook, the humble postage stamp frequently gets lost. Don't misunderstand me: I love the ease of email, and, obviously, I love blogging.
But I remain a devotee of sending cards the old-fashioned way, handwritten with a stamp placed in the upper right hand corner of the envelope. I take pleasure in choosing the perfect card to send to a friend. Is there anything more thrilling than receiving a real letter in the mail? They serve as beacons of intimacy in an assortment of impersonal junk mail, bills, and political announcements.
Letters are an intensely personal form of communication. I saved letters from my parents (both deceased) and re-read them, connecting with my mother and father all over again. I save cards from friends who care. I save cards from my children who express their love.
So, for today, I am grateful, once again, for Ben Franklin ... and for the postage stamp.
Franklin was such a creative genius. I'm sure he could have come up with a better name for this medium of communication than a "blog". It sounds decidedly mediocre. Doesn't help that it rhymes with "bog" either.
ReplyDeleteSorry Jane. This wasn't a very grateful post by me, was it?
Jane, I started a letter writing campaign a couple of years ago. I've been writing letters to children, siblings, neices, and my parents. My Dad so loved it, we've become pen-pals. It's a whole new relationship with him thru letter writing. There are usually a few weeks between letters, he always reminds me when I "owe" him a letter. Too fun.
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