Writing letters

I have always been a big believer in the power of words. Some people don't think that words are all that useful in capturing exactly how a person is feeling at one moment but I really do. So for my graduation gifts -you know, the ones students give teachers at the end of high school to say thanks and don't miss me- I've decided to write people letters. Not just teachers either, friends and random people who've helped me so far. I am writing them all by hand and then folding them up into little envelopes like this. Consider me a postal service.

In year 9, I wrote my friend a short story about how we first met and why I respected her so much and thereafter all my friends wanted their own story for their birthdays too. Not only are stories or even memories hard work to put on paper, I sometimes felt as if I'm giving bits of myself away and opening myself for judgement. What if these feelings were one sided? Does the other person even remember it? I figure that since I'm leaving and may never them again, I will go for broke.

So far I have maybe 6 letters with many more to come. There are a couple for my subject teachers, friends, fellow captains and some people who have just had a perhaps accidental impact on my life. An example of this accidental impact is my year 10 English teacher who introduced me to Atticus Finch. Another is a particular librarian to whom I recommended a book and received it new, uncovered and fresh from a bookstore the very next day. I was first to read it. Another to whom I will write is my principal who I have a strangely friendly relationship with. Another to a teacher who always teased me about my hair until I teased him back. It is odd to think I am leaving these people for good. I hope that if they've forgotten what I'm talking about, they'll try to remember.

John Green quoting his wife wrote, "Thinking about the future is a kind of nostalgia." 

To this I say, "Exactly."

Let me know if you've ever written a letter to someone that you've regretted or what you gave for graduation gifts. Ciao.