Love Letters

Keeping your things tidy once in a bluemoon would sometimes give us unexpected surprises. Surprise such as that you have a lot of extra clothings that you could still wear or donate, and things that would make you reminisce old memories and experiences.

One of the things that surprised me one time when I was looking for my old address book (from Advan Paper products), was how my penmanship has changed from when I was still spending more time with pens than with computer keyboards. And what's more surprising, is when I get to read the names of my old acquaintances, lost friends, and even "ex'es". There were some names whom I cannot remember writing, but I knew I wrote that name because it was my penmanship. Was it due to a selective memory loss? Or was it just written without me really knowing who that person is?

As I continued to dig the box full of horded scraps that can already cause a forest fire with just a spark of a shiny-white-teeth, I came across some love letters. It's not cheesy as you think, come on, please continue reading!

I know that those people who are at my age, and who were teenagers during the 90's and below, still know what a "love letter" really is. It's not like a spam email, nor an impulsive twitter message or social network status that you just show-off for everybody else in the world to see. But it is the compilation of thoughts, of words from the heart, made alive through creative expression in writing. Okay, it may not even be creative, it may not come from the heart, but it definitely is something that we write on some stationeries or a piece of paper, or on a carefully selected and designed paper from a bookstore, and in some cases, personally designed paper. In short, it has been created with love or passion for the person whom the letter will be given.

So just to keep the memories alive in case my apartment get burned from the hordes of decade-old trash, I decided to somehow, share some of these letters here. But sorry, I'm not sharing it word-per-word. If you want to get to know the contents, tickle my spine and I might share some during a midnight kwentuhan session, lol!

I know you have more love-letters than I do!

So those came from different people, a friend, an acquaintance, and even from people whom I almost forgot who they were. There were also a number of letters that came from a girl - who is now my now wife (sweet!).

But the most interesting part is, when I saw these bulky cards with some bulky letterings and handwritings, lol! It came from my sweet, loving sister. ;)

Love letters from a family is the sweetest you will receive.

Memories came in as I read each card, making me remember how I first reacted whenever I receive a card or letter from her each year, or even on my birthdays. I feel awkward then, but I still get to read the cards; I don't feel it deserves appreciation, but I still kept the card; I didn't felt it's importance, but I treasured it. And now, it has finally touched my heart.

Why did I react like that, you may ask. You see, we have not been raised with a daily dose of cuddling and lambingan from our parents. Our Mom is also our Dad, making her the most-busiest (intentional made redundant) person we know. So time is always gold for her that she couldn't even find enough time to cuddle us, except when I look cute (I wonder why my sister always gets the hugs and cuddlings?! Does it mean she's cuter? hmmnnn... I don't think so, lol!).

So, start digging your archives (boxes) of old letters, you might also be surprised who are the people who also made you cry. Come on, be brave, don't worry, it will no longer hurt you! ;)