There have been questions here before about what we should say when writing a letter to a soldier. Check out today's post from HM3 Adam J. O'Gara. He says that hearing about "normal daily events" from OUR lives brings a little bit of "home" to their NOT normal lives. We may think we've had a boring day, but apparently they enjoy hearing about it!

I read that, too, and had to smile. One of my soldiers recently told me, when I asked if there was anything special he needed or wanted: "Just keep the letters coming! Luv em!" Believe me, I don't write about anything very exciting. Mostly day-to-day stuff...

That is kind of nice to hear actually.  I'm always afraid that I will bore them to death with stories about my life.  I'm always a little intimidated to write to them until I get to know them. 

SusanMK:

...I'm always a little intimidated to write to them until I get to know them. 

Early on, an Army unit in AFG learned all about why I was afraid to write, and what when through my mind as I managed my fear. I wrote weekly into the silent void for over six months with some poignant stuff, but also what I picked up at the grocery, my struggle finding with parking ***, how I secretly enjoyed doing laundry, and I thought my kid's school.made (everything) so ridiculously hard... then way-way-way after their drop notice, I received a Free Mail saying, "we heard every word" and "thank you for sharing your days"... - wow. 

I've written about how I don't know what to write, so many times now I could write about it.

There's a sniper group who fancied an short adventure story from my youth, and over two tours learned more about (my) wild oats than my husband ever did (laughter - never mind, I'm not gonna tell 'ya).  There's a Marine SSGT who's listened carefully about stories of my father (WWII 1st Marine Div, Guadalcanal), and told me he read them to his crew. He helped me understand some things, if only in reflection, and on second deployment requested for his men: "more adventure's of Marine-brat #3!" (that is, ordinary stories about an ordinary kid). ...And Capt Bourland, [nee Major Pain]  (smile)...God bless him. I wrote him in anger and he healed me with a word. The subsequent months of writing into his unit, I prattled on about my walks by the sea, what (I thought) was happy news, or a funny joke, or a silly song, or the recycle-trash wars at work or that I danced at the laundramat with the dryers going (who's going to see me at 5am?) or that I finally, finally learned it was okay I wasn't a doctor (to magically heal the soldiers at the VA); that even in paperwork, there were ways to love. Many of us know his generous encouragement: "thank you for knowing us; you have made a difference."

What can this old broad write useful to a ripe warrior?  ...that I'm grateful for my free and peaceful life, ...that it's pretty darned nice to get my chores done today, and thank you for keeping me safe.

I thought our life was too boring to write about too. 

I try to write my letters on the back of paper where I have printed out pictures of our little kids shopping for their soldwers (toddler speak for soldier) and packing the soldwer boxes.  (Yes, we take everything out of the boxes and re-pack the boxes after the kids go to bed.)  From ones I have heard back from, they enjoy the funny trips to the store, the packing stories and our family post office adventures.  They also loved the stories of our feeble attempts at camping with a family. Who knew such a bunch of silly civilians sleeping on top of mud would put a smile on their faces?

We always thank them for their service and sacrifice on behalf of our country, so we can have this thing we call life, boring, maybe but we are free to make it as wild as we can stand it.

But, this is an individual thing.  Saying hello should be from your heart, that's all. 

Best,

 

I have a friend who's military and when he has a bad day he asks me what's cooking? He said it reminds him of his momma's cooking and canning and all. When he says what's cooking I know he WANTS me to ramble about anything, kinda like a familiar escape. He almost knows my dogs as well as I do! Write as if you're talking to them and telling them about your day, all I did was wash 14 loads of clothes is fine, now tell them why you have 14 loads, what kind of clothes, etc. People are nosey and different is interesting. Right now how I wrestled a pan in the dishwasher despite my kids betting it wouldn't fit is fascinating. Family is nice, even if it's a dog, 2 cats and the old man in 2B who winks at you. You'll be fine, the main thing they want is to be remembered as being there.

Hugs!

Laurie 

I tend to worry about boring them  and that I write letters that are too long.  Last week I received a letter from a contact that I've been corresponding with since before Christmas - I write long letters they write short notes. 

 I finally confessed to hoping that my long letters didn't bore them silly.  Their response was along the lines of - please don't ever worry that your letters are too long or boring - we love to hear from you!

I write about everyday stuff here at home, sports news, my favorite teams, the pets, garden, weather (goes with being an avid planter) and try to match their interests if we share them, my latest projects, funny stories - there seem to be a lot lately:) 

Ann

 

 

I used to worry about my letters being too long, until one of my contacts reminded me that it doesn't take nearly as long to "read" as it does to write! 

A 10 or 12 page letter seems huge to us, but realistically, it's only about 5 minutes to them

 I say WRITE ON! 

Do you think it's bad to type the letters?  I know writing is more personal, but I type so much faster and can write a lot more if I do it that way.  Not to mention how messy my handwriting is.

 

That's been debated, to great lengths, in several threads on the Forum. Try doing a search for the word "letters" and you can read them.

I think most people say, and I agree: do what works for you. I do both hand-written and typed letters, and I think they're  both appreciated.

 

I personally type all my letters outside the short notes I write in the 'cards'  Cuz if I didn't you would have to be a Egyptoligist to read my hieroglyphics or be a cryptologist one, yes it's that bad ... lol

Or I would have to dig in the attic & find my prized '*** Tracy De-Coder Ring' from my youth to de-code the secret message I had written.

Now I do try to change the fonts on each letter to something different each time.  I try to pick to match the mood, just me.

FrozenOKie .... aka by my soldier as UnderDawg

Update .... arg dang 'forbidden word remover' ... OK   *** = nickname for Richard ... lol 

That's a good idea, FrozenOkie, changing the fonts!  I love to find free fun fonts!  I'll do that, handwrite cards, type the longer ones.  I don't want to put any eyes out, those poor soldiers need them!

ann:

I tend to worry about boring them  and that I write letters that are too long. 

I smiled at your comment of writing long and receiving short :)   I wrote a group of Strykers (flying a jolly roger); their contact spoke of reading my longer letters as a serial. Like your contacts Ann, he also calmed my worries and invited me to write on (as I was) about the flowers that were blooming, the joys and challenges and mundane parts of my day.  Interspersed with that would be my thoughts of them... what inspired me to pray upon them and why.  Of course, sometimes, I said less (and photographed more) or prattled on about local news, silly family antics, or what it was like going on a blind date being 50 years old (that got a response - laughter).  A sniper I wrote to, remarked to me - that he enjoyed my letters because if he was too tired to read, he'd rest looking at the pictures.  - Good enough for me.  :)  Aren't we lucky to have such an audience, such precious men and women. 

Oh - and I type 99% of my correspondence, with nary a complaint.  Ms. Manners wouldn't mind, neither does a grunt 7,000 miles or so from home.

I am so glad I am reading these posts on this subject.  I started typing letters because my arthritis has gotten so bad due to a medication change.  You guys have eased my mind.

Best,