The Lost Art of.....

Monday, August 3, 2009....

Today I was reading inkOBSESSION and as an anniversary give-away, she's offering a gift cert to her shop. She sells great cards/invites/we've moved cards etc. which started me thinking. When was the last time I've sent or received a letter?

Granted, I love the instant satisfaction that an email gives you, but admit to being a paper whore. I've kept journals over the years and always meander into the journal section of any book store to just look.

I have personalized stationery, fun cards and great invites - all requiring to ol' school it (mail vs. email).

I love her cards and that she shares a bit of her life with her readers. If employed, I know I'd be dropping $$$ there.

In addition to the Lost Art of Letter Writing, I've noticed that there is a growing tendency for people not to listen to one another. I understand how technology replaced the written letter, but has technology replaced the ability to listen to one another?

I'm not sure.

What I do know is that many people are in such a hurry they've forgotten they've called you to inquire about you. I don't know if it's because they're multi-tasking and on the Internet, checking text messages on their phone, or programming their dvr, but as I get older, I notice my patience for horrible listeners have no place in my life.

A 'horrible' listener is not a person that doesn't remember the minor happenings in my life, but major events. It would be the person who had forgotten you had a sex change and your name is no longer Jane, but Jim (note: I have not had a sex change, but used this dramatic example to really define my point).

When I was in my early 20's, my ex-father-in-law would ask me how many siblings I had. After about the 10th time, I realized he wasn't listening and told him 13. I might have added that my oldest sister, a research scientist at John Hopkins, was working on the cure for cancer at that very moment in time. My sister is a researcher at Johns Hopkins, but was she working on the cure for cancer, not sure, but doubt it.

My point to my rambling is that I don't want you to call me under the guise you actually care about my life if you're not going to listen and then laugh about forgetting major events I've shared with you. It's insulting.

I know everyone is juggling a zillion things, but don't have me open up to you if you really have no intention of listening. I'd respect you more if you called me and said LMB, I really just want to talk about me for the next hour.