Snail Mail

The art of writing love letters, or any letters for that matter, seems to be lost.  Couples these days call, email, text, Skye, Facetime, etc.  No need for handwritten letters with instant messaging.  However when Alex decided to spend the summer in the wilderness of Alaska communicating with technology was out of the question.  There was not cellphone service.  Internet was an option for only certain hours on the weekend.  Mail was brought into camp 2 days a week.  We learned to write letters.  I’m not sure I would call them love letters as there was a general lack of mushiness but it was how we shared life for 3 months.  It took about 10 days for a letter from Kansas to reach Alaska which created a time warp.  However I don’t think we would trade the fact we had to write letters for a period of time.  We both discovered new things about each other through these letters that didn’t come out in face to face or phone conversations.  We still treasure this stack of letters that drew us closer together.  Here’s a few snippets:

We talked about what we were reading, thinking about, or had learned recently:

“Reading Anna Karenina is really taking off.  Typical of Tolstoy, it took 400 pages to get to the point where you say “This book is extraordinary.”  It’s been very frustrating at times and I’ll still get so riled up I’ll have to set it down, but it always draws me back.”   --Arthur, June 30, 2011

Happenings from our days:
"I had several hours of zipline training this morning.  The top of the zipline is on a 50 foot cliff with eagles' nests overhead.  When I jump off the zipline I always feel a little bit like Indian Jones.  Harrison Ford always seems to be smooth and composed and somehow his hat always stays on.  However, you've got something on Indian Jones.  As cool as Indiana is (anyone named for states have a certain level of coolness) I'm pretty sure he could never handle pythons and boas like the infamous Arthur, the snake charmer.  I really am impressed with the way you don't back down or avoid something you probably rather not do but have the courage to jump in and get it done."  Alex, June 4, 2011

"Last night I was in charge of getting the fire in the stove burning to keep the cabin warm.  After several matches I was finally able to get some of the kindling to light and had a blazing fire soon after.  I felt like I had discovered fire and was pretty pleased with myself.  I was able to take an old pile of wood and create light and warmth. (So I guess create would not be the correct word because of conservation of matter but I was still super excited.)  -- Alex, June 25, 2011

Some of our struggles dealing with being camp counselors for kids:

Arthur has always had a strong belief that teenage girls are going to cause the downfall of America. Apparently my experiences with teenage girls affirmed this. “After reading your thoughts on junior high girls, I shuddered for my country with the realization that the agents of its downfall are 150% greater in number; hence maybe 300% greater in attitude, than I originally thought.  Trying to establish stable government in Somalia again starts to sound like an attractive idea.” -- Arthur, July 6, 2011  (Little did he know at the time this rant was penned two years before our wedding day on July 6^th). 

And even included some romantic tibbets as well: 

“ Reading your letters have come in very useful.  They made me realize that I don’t know off hand what the difference between a seal and a sea lion is, so I got that corrected and am now more able to answer the questions of children at zoo camp if this issue ever arise.  I think it is really awesome that you get to watched them play and see whales.  I sure wish I could share that rock with you and take it all in, but in spite of all that beauty, the most attractive piece of the scenario would be the beauty I would have right beside me.”    Arthur, June 13, 2011

"It's National Hug a Tall Person Day- this possibly could become my new favorite holiday.  However at this point you are not at a hugable distance.  I guess since I can't give you a big bear hug I will just have to make due with hugging a big bear hear instead. -- Alex, June 5, 2011

These 'love letters' did have a unique part in our dating story.  At camp we always had to stand up and sing a song and dance during mail call if we got letters.  I hate singing and dancing but I was always more than willing to sing a round of Grey Squirrel and 'shake my bushy tail' if it meant getting a letter from Arthur-- well worth it.  Omnia Vincit Amor.