I was born in an era of typewriters, snail-mail letters, no mobile phones, no emails, no personal computers. I still write letters by (untidy) hand and send them through the post. I’ve a treasure trove of letters written to me over a lifetime stashed away in my kist, including a love note from my husband, typed on a typewriter on a phone message note about 25 years ago :-), and a wonderful letter from a stranger regarding my father’s death notice in the newspaper.
And a few years ago, I discovered the many letters and postcards I’d written to my youngest niece over the years after I emigrated adorned the inside of her cupboard doors – she’d kept them all. We both prize what people have taken the time to write with us in mind.
There is one letter, though, that really breaks my heart when I re-read it now. It’s from a boy who grew up in South Africa in the years just after Apartheid officially ended. His name is Freedom and, at the time that he wrote this letter, he was a child without very many worldly possessions at all, but he was loved, and was full of joy and hope. And, as his letter shows, he had a genuine appreciation for so very little. 
Freedom’s mum, widowed early in her marriage, worked beyond hard to give him a good education, and she had high hopes for his future. He is now a young man but, unfortunately, due to some nefarious influences and bad choices, his life isn’t turning out so well.
My 5 picks from this week’s photo challenge at The Daily Post:
beeblu blog 
So you were part of a letter-exchange ? – or did you ‘adopt’ Freedom ?
No, nothing like that, M-R; I know Freedom’s mum.
Got it … 🙂
You made me stop and think deeply there, bb, as a child I wrote to a penpal in America, we lost touch but I wonder sometimes how her life has gone… The written word, so much more personal somehow… I do hope Freedom lives up to his name and fights free of the bad influences… xPenx
Hi Pen – having pen pals was such fun. I see blogging sort of as a modern form.
That is such a sweet letter from Freedom. I wish him all the best and hope things turn out well for him. I used to write letters to my best friend in Singapore. She changed primary schools so we did this to stay in touch. But one day she stopped writing 😦 Ah, well. I still write the occasional postcard these days.
It’s sad when we lose touch, but, I guess, life where we are just takes over.
Are you still in touch with Freedom? HIs mom? Maybe he’ll manage to turn his life around.
My mum tells me that he has a job and he also now has a child of his own, so he is doing better now.
What a nice piece. I value the (nearly lost) art of the handwritten letter, too.
Thanks, Jann. It’s so wonderful to receive a handwritten letter in the post.
Just class!
My classes in cursive evade me!
Like everyone I’m fascinated by Freedom, tell us more please!
My mum tells me he has turned things around somewhat- he has a job and a child of his own now. So his mum has a grandchild to love 😄
That’s great and how nice for you to be able to keep track 🙂
I hope Freedom manages to find his way…like everyone else I would love to know more about him
My mum tells me that he is, Jo. 😃
What a beautiful letter from Freedom. I really hope things turn around for him. This post reminded me of something I found the other day – a telegram my husband sent to his parents when I had my first child. LOL – good grief, I don’t feel THAT old! (I dont know why he didn’t just ring them) 😀
A telegram – how quaint! 😄 I remember telegrams being read out at weddings.
It’s great to keep letters (keeping an email just doesn’t have the same ring to it) – what did we do with ourselves in the olden days – it’s almost hard to believe that we didn’t have computers – I didn’t use one until Uni and then they were mainframes and not pc’s! I used to write to my friends when I lived overseas for a while – I don’t know if they kept them but it would be a hoot to read them again. ps. hope freedom finds his way – you never know
No, old emails definitely don’t have the same effect (smell, feel and look of the paper). I am glad I grew up in the non-digital era, but am around to see the technological age. We are fortunate to experience the best of both ages, and to learn in the different styles. I think our neurological mappings would be quite different to those of the tech-babies 😉
I have worked with many boys, and girls, like Freedom. One does the best one can but, unfortunately, cannot take them out of the environment in which they live.
That is true, Colline. Bad peer influences, drugs and alcohol have a way of messing up lives no matter parental endeavours.
I have a set of old letters saved…and read them when I need to remind myself about the really important things in life…so enjoyed your post.
They are precious, Charles. Thanks.
Beautiful all around. And how special to send, receive, and keep those letters.
I keep letters – it’s wonderful to read them years later and remember things I’ve forgotten.