by Jo Campbell
They're back! The internet is restoring an art long-lost to civilized humanity; that of written communication, the expression of thought in words put down in visible form. This may be the year for the Return of The Letter.
For decades the telephone took the place of
missives sent by what we sneeringly labeled "snail mail" via the
hard-pressed Postal Service. The sneer was deserved in some ways; mail took
forever, compared with picking up that little plastic instrument and
punching a programmed button on the dial. Vocal contact has been wonderful.
My bill shows how much I rely on it for everything.The phone was fine for interviews.
I had the subject's voice on tape. Perfect. But I never taped my kids and
grandkids. So when the call was over, all I had left was my faltering memory
cells; and the realization that I could -- after calculating the time in
California -- always call again.Now, when we think of a terrific
idea and want to communicate it, we can put it down and wing it on its way
regardless of the hour. It will not shrill the recipient awake. The message
will lie quietly until sought by the eager reader at the glowing screen. If
we like these communications, we can print them for our archives. Lord
Chesterfield and his son may be replaced by Mike and Charlie P!In fact, that may be another
challenge. Those of us who are so used to verbalizing are going to have to
get back into that other mode.........Learning to read again!
Enjoy! That's your assignment for 1996.