Recently I went on about how great it is to go analog — by writing or receiving a letter. Today I’ll backpedal. I think you should not save everything. Simply take a digital photo and then throw whatever away (or give it to your local charity shop). You will save yourself the hassle of throwing it away later.
At one time in my life, I may have saved this little moving tag. It’s a remnant of an era that passed several year ago. I may have put it in an envelope for looking at on a rainy day. (It rarely rains in Denver, though.)
And those analog letters you receive? Recycle them. If you really like them, save a few — but not all. (If your dad lives in a different town and never writes — and you finally get a real letter from him — by all means, save it! Just strive for balance.)
If you liked this post, you’ll like this other post.
Analog letter? A letter on paper is just a letter. It might be handwritten, typed, printed, but it’s on paper (or some writable surface). Maybe “paper letter” would be a better term. An analog letter might be the image of one transmitted by (nondigital) radio or tv.
(I have never in my life used the term “snail mail”.)
Tim — in the 2010’s, things are considered either analog or digital. (I left out spiritual...)
And snail mail? I guess I’m just used to hearing that.
Paul
recently I emptied our basement to get ready for a little remodel. I realized that I am really pretty good about not keeping things. But In the process I found ALL the letters you guys sent to us when you were overseas. ( Before blogs and emails) They were so precious to me. I know, I never look at them and they take up valuable filing space. But I just can’t throw those away. I think the girls may read them one day, or I will give them to your kids. But for now, they are in a box in my garage and they will be kept in a new place once the basement is in working order again.
I do agree with the take a picture idea. I do that for some of my kids many art projects I just can’t keep. Sometimes I am sorry , but usually I am glad they are gone.
leeeeeeeeee
That is SO nice, Lee! We are honored that you would consider those to be valuable.
Kind of along the same lines, when my mom died in 2009, she had boxes with all the letters her kids had written to her. We divided them up by sibling. Our box is in storage in our garage. I couldn’t bring myself to throw them away. As you say, maybe the kids will find them interesting someday.