What's this... 'snail mail'?

It's been just over a year now. I'm constantly surprised at how fast time flew by. Though, I will never forget the day when I found out. And where of all places did I find this terrible and tragic news? Facebook. Looking back even a couple of years, one wouldn't be given the news of a tragic death over the internet. It would be personal and face-to-face, or maybe you'd read their obituary in the newspaper. You would go to their house, visit, eat, grieve, cry, hug, and cry some more. You wouldn't be sent the video of their memorial by email.
I've noticed how almost everyone in my classes has a cell phone, an ipod, a laptop etc. Our world has become so technological and has drifted from being so personal and face-to-face.

Back a decade or so, I would write to my cousin in Calgary, and she would write back. I still have all her letters in my box, my box of special memories and trinkets that I'd grab if there was a fire. Her envelopes would be covered in stickers of all kinds, and little heartfelt words written all over. My name and address would be printed in the most creative font I've ever seen. My heart would always leap out of me, when I would run down the street to our mailbox, and see a letter addressed to me.
I recently received an email from a friend of my Young Life leader who passed away last year. She wrote about the year mark coming up, and how his wife wished to commemorate it with an honorary letter. So everyone replied back, with their emails. Less than an hour after I replied, she sent another email saying that she needed 'snail mail' addresses, and that his wife wished to send the letter the 'old fashioned way'. I was so surprised and touched that I teared up. I know, what a cliche, but truly how often does someone send a letter, snail mail style, nowadays? I sure haven't.
So here, I wait, for the expected, yet unique letter that is being written this moment, commemorating the life of an amazing, selfless, and unique person, that will be missed but loved, for everyday of the future.