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I keep waiting for the practice of letter writing to make its comeback. I probably shouldn’t hold my breath waiting for that to happen, right?

But, then again, why not? Sewing, knitting, and cooking at home are just a few old-fashioned practices that were all but extinct a couple of decades ago. And now, they are the height of hip.

I’ll grant you one thing: a handwritten note or letter is about as rare today as an albatross on a par 5. (For all my non-golfing friends, that means you are 3 strokes under on a par 5. It means you drove your tee shot onto the green and putted in for your second stroke. That’s rare as rare can be.)

If you gloss over what it has done to the United States Postal Service’s bottom line, there’s something inherently wonderful about the demise of letter writing; you can truly set yourself apart in life by doing something as simple as writing a note, putting a stamp on it, and sticking it in a mailbox. You’ve gotta love things that make you seem better than you are without even trying.

I have a keen love for fine papers and pens that keeps this old ritual in my repertoire. What could be better at the end of the day than opening your mailbox and finding a handwritten note? If you’re with me on that, what do you say we start a letter writing campaign? Stay tuned. Over the next few days, we’ll be kibitzing with each other over ideas for resurrecting this great art form.

Meanwhile, I’m sharing a great resource on letter writing plus a glimpse of the writing space I married into. For the Love of Letters: A 21st Century Guide to the Art of Letter Writing is a gem of a book for those of us who are interested in this vintage practice.

This writing desk once belonged to my husband’s great Aunt Grace. Sometimes, it practically beckons me to sit down in a leisurely way and write a note.

I keep this basket filled with note cards and stamps so I can write notes in a snap.

This little paperweight belonged to one of the sweetest couples I’ve ever known, Jim’s Uncle Bill and Aunt Millie. See the 7-Up carton inside?

Bill drove a 7-Up truck and amassed a small fortune by taking care of his money. It probably also helped that he was single until he was in his 40s and inherited the estates of five of his six sisters. Aunt Millie snagged Uncle Bill late in her life after having lived as a widow for decades.

I suppose they must have married in 1965, judging from the little paperweight my father-in-law gave me as a keepsake. They were humble, meek people right to the end of their lives.

It’s such a shame those characteristics are so out of vogue. Let’s bring humility back, too! Although that might be the same proposition as hoping you can make more noise in social media by staying quiet than you can by tweeting.

Life is short. Wear the good stuff.