We’re in that time of the year when we receive cards and letters. Personal ones, I mean, rather than direct-mail advertising.
Each year, I find myself reflecting on differences among generations regarding this custom. My dad’s circles, for instance, would send out and receive about two hundred cards apiece – keeping touch long after their high school and Air Force years, and trailing off only with illness and death. My generation, in contrast, falls away quickly. Each year, more lost connections, often with a pang of disconnection. There are, of course, a few who cling on, often with nothing personal included. There are also some older friends of my parents or a handful of relatives, in some sense of duty. (Only one of my first cousins has kept in touch). There are even a few correspondents who have reconnected, after years of silence. My wife and kids, being of a practical mindset, figure the folks we see regularly know what’s up with us (and so there’s no sense in mailing greetings), while those we don’t see, well, they’re history (so what’s the point?).
I think a lot of my dad’s era was a continuation of an earlier awareness, before cheap long-distance phone calls and then email. Those connections were special. My kids, on the other hand, don’t send letters of any kind, but they do have a wide range of online correspondents and texting. (Should we ask what will happen to the timeless art of the love letter?) What all this says about American society is another matter.
Quakers in some measure maintain an ancient practice of epistles, typically sent from one Meeting to another or even from a Meeting or “weighty Quake” to individuals. Some of our most powerful expressions survive there, and not from George Fox exclusively. Still, in an email world, how do we extend our faith? What efforts will survive? What will be read over the years? How do we reach out with something personal and special? Suddenly, I notice how many people are buying candles, especially at this time of year! Candles, in an electronics age. Remarkable! A spark of Light in the dark!
Jnana's Red Barn 
I have also pondered the habit of my generation of losing connection while my mother maintains connections across time and space with virtual strangers. I particularly like your comment ‘Each year, more lost connections, often with a pang of disconnection’. Just this morning I was thinking about friends with whom I had an intense connection 2 years ago and who now due to various calls on their time I don’t see more than once a year.
So many are cut off from the past..and lifelong friends are rare. I would say there is something superficial about having new friends every few years. It takes a good while to really get to know someone and share life journeys. Communities are being replaced with networks that only accept bits and pieces of our true selves. 😦
Makes me think of something I learned recently…they are removing handwriting from public schools and replacing it exclusively with manuscript.