when was the last time you wrote a letter not a text or tweet where direct
letter not a text or tweet where direct
letter not a text or tweet where direct messages was with an emoji not even a
messages was with an emoji not even a
messages was with an emoji not even a carefully crafted email but an actual
carefully crafted email but an actual
carefully crafted email but an actual honest-to-god letter one that you set
honest-to-god letter one that you set
honest-to-god letter one that you set down with pen and paper and as the words
down with pen and paper and as the words
down with pen and paper and as the words flowed you told someone you love them or
flowed you told someone you love them or
flowed you told someone you love them or that you missed them or that you were
that you missed them or that you were
that you missed them or that you were sorry if you’re like a lot of people
sorry if you’re like a lot of people
sorry if you’re like a lot of people perhaps it’s been a while but I’m here
perhaps it’s been a while but I’m here
perhaps it’s been a while but I’m here to tell you that needs to change
to tell you that needs to change
to tell you that needs to change because I believe that the simple act of
because I believe that the simple act of
because I believe that the simple act of handwriting a letter can fundamentally
handwriting a letter can fundamentally
handwriting a letter can fundamentally change who you are as a person
change who you are as a person
change who you are as a person can impact the recipient in immeasurable
can impact the recipient in immeasurable
can impact the recipient in immeasurable ways and if done often enough can change
ways and if done often enough can change
ways and if done often enough can change who we are as a society now you may be
who we are as a society now you may be
who we are as a society now you may be asking yourself how could the simple act
asking yourself how could the simple act
asking yourself how could the simple act of writing a letter do such a thing
of writing a letter do such a thing
of writing a letter do such a thing and I have to say I don’t blame you you
and I have to say I don’t blame you you
and I have to say I don’t blame you you see I did not understand its impact
see I did not understand its impact
see I did not understand its impact either that is until October the 7th
either that is until October the 7th
either that is until October the 7th 1997 that’s the day my father Robert
1997 that’s the day my father Robert
1997 that’s the day my father Robert Gray Davis passed away after years of
Gray Davis passed away after years of
Gray Davis passed away after years of illness that included a kidney
illness that included a kidney
illness that included a kidney transplant and the amputation of an arm
transplant and the amputation of an arm
transplant and the amputation of an arm and a leg to diabetes he simply fell
and a leg to diabetes he simply fell
and a leg to diabetes he simply fell asleep and did not wake up I still
asleep and did not wake up I still
asleep and did not wake up I still remember the shrieking phone call I got
remember the shrieking phone call I got
remember the shrieking phone call I got from my mother as my father lay
from my mother as my father lay
from my mother as my father lay motionless beside her
it was and still is the worst day of my
it was and still is the worst day of my life but from that pain was born a
life but from that pain was born a
life but from that pain was born a legacy you see my father had a mission
legacy you see my father had a mission
legacy you see my father had a mission and that mission was simple he wanted to
and that mission was simple he wanted to
and that mission was simple he wanted to write letters letters to the people
write letters letters to the people
write letters letters to the people places and things in his life that
places and things in his life that
places and things in his life that mattered so with the one hand he had
mattered so with the one hand he had
mattered so with the one hand he had left he wrote 26 letters 26 letters from
left he wrote 26 letters 26 letters from
left he wrote 26 letters 26 letters from the heart but it wasn’t just the simple
the heart but it wasn’t just the simple
the heart but it wasn’t just the simple act of a writing that meant so much it
act of a writing that meant so much it
act of a writing that meant so much it was the deep impact those letters had on
was the deep impact those letters had on
was the deep impact those letters had on their recipients and in turn the
their recipients and in turn the
their recipients and in turn the cathartic experience my father felt in
cathartic experience my father felt in
cathartic experience my father felt in writing them three days after I got that
writing them three days after I got that
writing them three days after I got that phone call from my mother I stood in a
phone call from my mother I stood in a
phone call from my mother I stood in a cemetery with my brothers and I handed
cemetery with my brothers and I handed
cemetery with my brothers and I handed out some of those letters to their
out some of those letters to their
out some of those letters to their intended recipients I still remember the
intended recipients I still remember the
intended recipients I still remember the look of peace and the look of love as
look of peace and the look of love as
look of peace and the look of love as they opened the envelope read the words
they opened the envelope read the words
they opened the envelope read the words and then saw my father’s name I want you
and then saw my father’s name I want you
and then saw my father’s name I want you to think for a moment about someone in
to think for a moment about someone in
to think for a moment about someone in your life
your life
your life someone who’s influenced you perhaps
someone who’s influenced you perhaps
someone who’s influenced you perhaps touched you maybe it was a family member
touched you maybe it was a family member
touched you maybe it was a family member or friend a coach or a colleague maybe
or friend a coach or a colleague maybe
or friend a coach or a colleague maybe even a complete stranger who performed
even a complete stranger who performed
even a complete stranger who performed an uncommon act of kindness think of
an uncommon act of kindness think of
an uncommon act of kindness think of that person hold their image in your
that person hold their image in your
that person hold their image in your mind imagine what it was about them that
mind imagine what it was about them that
mind imagine what it was about them that changed you now imagine putting those
changed you now imagine putting those
changed you now imagine putting those thoughts on paper or better yet imagine
thoughts on paper or better yet imagine
thoughts on paper or better yet imagine this it’s a Friday afternoon it’s been a
this it’s a Friday afternoon it’s been a
this it’s a Friday afternoon it’s been a long week maybe maybe even a lonely week
long week maybe maybe even a lonely week
long week maybe maybe even a lonely week and that person walks to the mailbox and
and that person walks to the mailbox and
and that person walks to the mailbox and among the junk mail and the bills they
among the junk mail and the bills they
among the junk mail and the bills they see an envelope and on the upper
see an envelope and on the upper
see an envelope and on the upper left-hand corner they see your name
left-hand corner they see your name
left-hand corner they see your name you know letter writing is an art form
you know letter writing is an art form
you know letter writing is an art form it started with chiseled images on stone
it started with chiseled images on stone
it started with chiseled images on stone it evolved to the great prose of our
it evolved to the great prose of our
it evolved to the great prose of our religious texts to Shakespeare to
religious texts to Shakespeare to
religious texts to Shakespeare to soldiers at war sending their thoughts
soldiers at war sending their thoughts
soldiers at war sending their thoughts home and yet in today’s society it seems
home and yet in today’s society it seems
home and yet in today’s society it seems as if we have devolved to those same
as if we have devolved to those same
as if we have devolved to those same chiseled images only today they’re on
chiseled images only today they’re on
chiseled images only today they’re on our smartphones isn’t our mission as
our smartphones isn’t our mission as
our smartphones isn’t our mission as humans to evolve not devolve
communication is key to who we are and
communication is key to who we are and yes technology does allow for a great
yes technology does allow for a great
yes technology does allow for a great degree of efficiency in that
degree of efficiency in that
degree of efficiency in that communication but it allows for very
communication but it allows for very
communication but it allows for very little intimacy it is the intimacy of
little intimacy it is the intimacy of
little intimacy it is the intimacy of this communication that can change you
this communication that can change you
this communication that can change you when you write on a piece of paper and
when you write on a piece of paper and
when you write on a piece of paper and your hand crosses the center point you
your hand crosses the center point you
your hand crosses the center point you engage the left and the right sides of
engage the left and the right sides of
engage the left and the right sides of your brain your thinking critically and
your brain your thinking critically and
your brain your thinking critically and creatively when you hand write a letter
creatively when you hand write a letter
creatively when you hand write a letter you slow down you contemplate you
you slow down you contemplate you
you slow down you contemplate you reflect this doesn’t happen on the
reflect this doesn’t happen on the
reflect this doesn’t happen on the typewriter as a matter of fact when we
typewriter as a matter of fact when we
typewriter as a matter of fact when we all looked all took typing class and
all looked all took typing class and
all looked all took typing class and high schoolers keyboarding classes they
high schoolers keyboarding classes they
high schoolers keyboarding classes they call it now what’s the one thing you
call it now what’s the one thing you
call it now what’s the one thing you focused on what’s the one thing you were
focused on what’s the one thing you were
focused on what’s the one thing you were proud of and probably most graded on
how many words per minute can I type
how many words per minute can I type it’s not the quantity of our words that
it’s not the quantity of our words that
it’s not the quantity of our words that matter it’s the quality you see my
matter it’s the quality you see my
matter it’s the quality you see my father used his words to write 26
father used his words to write 26
father used his words to write 26 letters 26 letters for their intended
letters 26 letters for their intended
letters 26 letters for their intended recipients but my father’s mission while
recipients but my father’s mission while
recipients but my father’s mission while simple was larger than that you see my
simple was larger than that you see my
simple was larger than that you see my father viewed those 26 letters as his
father viewed those 26 letters as his
father viewed those 26 letters as his memoir in letter form he wanted to share
memoir in letter form he wanted to share
memoir in letter form he wanted to share them with the world I’m happy to say
them with the world I’m happy to say
them with the world I’m happy to say that 20 years after his death I did just
that 20 years after his death I did just
that 20 years after his death I did just that by adding content and context
that by adding content and context
that by adding content and context around those letters they are now a
around those letters they are now a
around those letters they are now a published work of nonfiction a
published work of nonfiction a
published work of nonfiction a posthumous co-authoring with my father
posthumous co-authoring with my father
posthumous co-authoring with my father and as I talked about this project with
and as I talked about this project with
and as I talked about this project with people I get interesting responses
people I get interesting responses
people I get interesting responses generally the first thing someone says
generally the first thing someone says
generally the first thing someone says to me is all letter-writing
to me is all letter-writing
to me is all letter-writing that’s a dying art not entirely untrue
that’s a dying art not entirely untrue
that’s a dying art not entirely untrue but I can tell you this it is not dead
but I can tell you this it is not dead
but I can tell you this it is not dead it’s living and breathing alive and well
it’s living and breathing alive and well
it’s living and breathing alive and well and some unlikely places
and some unlikely places
and some unlikely places one group that reached out to me about
one group that reached out to me about
one group that reached out to me about the project was the New York City letter
the project was the New York City letter
the project was the New York City letter writers Society they invited me to New
writers Society they invited me to New
writers Society they invited me to New York City to spend some time and as I
York City to spend some time and as I
York City to spend some time and as I prepared for this trip my friends and
prepared for this trip my friends and
prepared for this trip my friends and family said to me well what is the New
family said to me well what is the New
family said to me well what is the New York City letter writers Society and I
York City letter writers Society and I
York City letter writers Society and I have to admit I had no idea it very well
have to admit I had no idea it very well
have to admit I had no idea it very well could have been three crazy old women in
could have been three crazy old women in
could have been three crazy old women in the basement of a Greenwich Village
the basement of a Greenwich Village
the basement of a Greenwich Village apartment I had visions of a dark
apartment I had visions of a dark
apartment I had visions of a dark staircase leading to a dusty library
staircase leading to a dusty library
staircase leading to a dusty library full of envelopes and encyclopedias but
full of envelopes and encyclopedias but
full of envelopes and encyclopedias but when I got down to lower Manhattan what
when I got down to lower Manhattan what
when I got down to lower Manhattan what I found was an eclectic diverse group of
I found was an eclectic diverse group of
I found was an eclectic diverse group of 20 and 30-somethings there was the
20 and 30-somethings there was the
20 and 30-somethings there was the curator from the Metropolitan Museum of
curator from the Metropolitan Museum of
curator from the Metropolitan Museum of Art the pencil shop owner
Art the pencil shop owner
Art the pencil shop owner in Soho the young graphic artist working
in Soho the young graphic artist working
in Soho the young graphic artist working at a co-working space in Midtown and it
at a co-working space in Midtown and it
at a co-working space in Midtown and it was all led by Rhea Abramson an
was all led by Rhea Abramson an
was all led by Rhea Abramson an executive and the fashion industry and
executive and the fashion industry and
executive and the fashion industry and for the next three hours we sat around a
for the next three hours we sat around a
for the next three hours we sat around a table full of stationery and envelopes
table full of stationery and envelopes
table full of stationery and envelopes and postcards and postage stamps and we
and postcards and postage stamps and we
and postcards and postage stamps and we laughed we told stories and we wrote
laughed we told stories and we wrote
laughed we told stories and we wrote letters we wrote letters to the people
letters we wrote letters to the people
letters we wrote letters to the people and our lives that mattered and as I sat
and our lives that mattered and as I sat
and our lives that mattered and as I sat there with this group overlooking the
there with this group overlooking the
there with this group overlooking the Hudson River as the Sun set beyond the
Hudson River as the Sun set beyond the
Hudson River as the Sun set beyond the Statue of Liberty I thought here is the
Statue of Liberty I thought here is the
Statue of Liberty I thought here is the most connected generation in the history
most connected generation in the history
most connected generation in the history of mankind and yet they feel more
of mankind and yet they feel more
of mankind and yet they feel more disconnected than ever and they’re using
disconnected than ever and they’re using
disconnected than ever and they’re using the art of letter writing to reconnect
the art of letter writing to reconnect
the art of letter writing to reconnect and they’re turning the art of letter
and they’re turning the art of letter
and they’re turning the art of letter writing into a work of art with ink
writing into a work of art with ink
writing into a work of art with ink stamps drawings calligraphy all on the
stamps drawings calligraphy all on the
stamps drawings calligraphy all on the envelope so that when you open the
envelope so that when you open the
envelope so that when you open the mailbox you have a gift in and of itself
mailbox you have a gift in and of itself
mailbox you have a gift in and of itself before you ever read the first word the
before you ever read the first word the
before you ever read the first word the other thing that I found interesting is
other thing that I found interesting is
other thing that I found interesting is that everyone has a letter-writing story
that everyone has a letter-writing story
that everyone has a letter-writing story everybody think about it in your life
everybody think about it in your life
everybody think about it in your life there was a time in your life maybe it
there was a time in your life maybe it
there was a time in your life maybe it was your first week of college maybe
was your first week of college maybe
was your first week of college maybe that week at summer camp or your first
that week at summer camp or your first
that week at summer camp or your first job or when you got married someone sent
job or when you got married someone sent
job or when you got married someone sent you a letter someone gave you a hand
you a letter someone gave you a hand
you a letter someone gave you a hand written note it meant something people
written note it meant something people
written note it meant something people say to me all the time they tell me
say to me all the time they tell me
say to me all the time they tell me stories the young lady said you know my
stories the young lady said you know my
stories the young lady said you know my grandfather wrote to my grandmother
grandfather wrote to my grandmother
grandfather wrote to my grandmother every week when he was in the war I have
every week when he was in the war I have
every week when he was in the war I have all of these letters they’re in a box at
all of these letters they’re in a box at
all of these letters they’re in a box at my home I’ve always wanted to do
my home I’ve always wanted to do
my home I’ve always wanted to do something with them or the young man
something with them or the young man
something with them or the young man that told me you know when I was a child
that told me you know when I was a child
that told me you know when I was a child my father traveled for business every
my father traveled for business every
my father traveled for business every week but regardless of where he went he
week but regardless of where he went he
week but regardless of where he went he sent me a postcard or a note on hotel
sent me a postcard or a note on hotel
sent me a postcard or a note on hotel stationery I still have those some of
stationery I still have those some of
stationery I still have those some of them are framed on the wall in my office
them are framed on the wall in my office
them are framed on the wall in my office I think of my father often when I see
I think of my father often when I see
I think of my father often when I see these and I ask them a question
these and I ask them a question
these and I ask them a question I say do you write letters do send notes
I say do you write letters do send notes
I say do you write letters do send notes to your child inevitably after a quick
to your child inevitably after a quick
to your child inevitably after a quick glance at the floor they say no and I
glance at the floor they say no and I
glance at the floor they say no and I say why if you understand the power of
say why if you understand the power of
say why if you understand the power of this process would you not do that they
this process would you not do that they
this process would you not do that they tell me this they say I don’t have time
tell me this they say I don’t have time
tell me this they say I don’t have time I just can’t find the time you know time
I just can’t find the time you know time
I just can’t find the time you know time time is an interesting concept you see
time is an interesting concept you see
time is an interesting concept you see if you don’t find time time will find
if you don’t find time time will find
if you don’t find time time will find you time found my father and he used his
you time found my father and he used his
you time found my father and he used his time to write 26 letters 26 letters the
time to write 26 letters 26 letters the
time to write 26 letters 26 letters the shaped his life and changed mine and I
shaped his life and changed mine and I
shaped his life and changed mine and I thought that’s my letter writing story
thought that’s my letter writing story
thought that’s my letter writing story and then one day somebody asked me about
and then one day somebody asked me about
and then one day somebody asked me about the project specifically about my family
the project specifically about my family
the project specifically about my family my mother they wanted him a picture of
my mother they wanted him a picture of
my mother they wanted him a picture of my mother on her wedding day
my mother on her wedding day
my mother on her wedding day and I knew I had this picture I just
and I knew I had this picture I just
and I knew I had this picture I just didn’t know where so one day I go down
didn’t know where so one day I go down
didn’t know where so one day I go down into my basement to my unfinished
into my basement to my unfinished
into my basement to my unfinished basement where we keep all this stuff
basement where we keep all this stuff
basement where we keep all this stuff that we’ve accumulated over time and
that we’ve accumulated over time and
that we’ve accumulated over time and there in the corner are the 20 boxes
there in the corner are the 20 boxes
there in the corner are the 20 boxes that my wife told me five years ago I
that my wife told me five years ago I
that my wife told me five years ago I should have gone through and and so I
should have gone through and and so I
should have gone through and and so I get down there and I started looking
get down there and I started looking
get down there and I started looking through the boxes and there’s the box of
through the boxes and there’s the box of
through the boxes and there’s the box of pictures and there’s the picture of my
pictures and there’s the picture of my
pictures and there’s the picture of my mother on her wedding day young vibrant
mother on her wedding day young vibrant
mother on her wedding day young vibrant beautiful I pull the picture out I set
beautiful I pull the picture out I set
beautiful I pull the picture out I set it on the floor and as I glanced back
it on the floor and as I glanced back
it on the floor and as I glanced back into that box I see an envelope large
into that box I see an envelope large
into that box I see an envelope large manila envelope tattered and torn had
manila envelope tattered and torn had
manila envelope tattered and torn had some a Jonah and as I pull it out I see
some a Jonah and as I pull it out I see
some a Jonah and as I pull it out I see two words
two words
two words Ashley’s graduation now I must say at
Ashley’s graduation now I must say at
Ashley’s graduation now I must say at this point in the story I’m not excited
this point in the story I’m not excited
this point in the story I’m not excited about that large manila envelope
about that large manila envelope
about that large manila envelope you see the mid-80s was not the best
you see the mid-80s was not the best
you see the mid-80s was not the best fashion period in my life this was a box
fashion period in my life this was a box
fashion period in my life this was a box of pictures pictures were not at the top
of pictures pictures were not at the top
of pictures pictures were not at the top of my list but what I found when I
of my list but what I found when I
of my list but what I found when I opened that envelope was every card
opened that envelope was every card
opened that envelope was every card every letter every note I received when
every letter every note I received when
every letter every note I received when I graduated high school 30 years ago now
I graduated high school 30 years ago now
I graduated high school 30 years ago now most of these were simply Hallmark cards
most of these were simply Hallmark cards
most of these were simply Hallmark cards from a third cousin in Mississippi who
from a third cousin in Mississippi who
from a third cousin in Mississippi who sent me $10 because I was Bobby Davis’s
sent me $10 because I was Bobby Davis’s
sent me $10 because I was Bobby Davis’s son and I graduated high school but at
son and I graduated high school but at
son and I graduated high school but at the bottom of that envelope was a
the bottom of that envelope was a
the bottom of that envelope was a business sized letter hen written
business sized letter hen written
business sized letter hen written addressed to mr. William Van Ashley
addressed to mr. William Van Ashley
addressed to mr. William Van Ashley Davis postmarked may 19th 1986 it was
Davis postmarked may 19th 1986 it was
Davis postmarked may 19th 1986 it was from my grandfather mr. Van Davis whom
from my grandfather mr. Van Davis whom
from my grandfather mr. Van Davis whom IRA affectionately referred to as peanut
IRA affectionately referred to as peanut
IRA affectionately referred to as peanut in this letter my grandfather told me
in this letter my grandfather told me
in this letter my grandfather told me what he thought of me as a child what he
what he thought of me as a child what he
what he thought of me as a child what he hoped for me as a man he told me about
hoped for me as a man he told me about
hoped for me as a man he told me about the collegiate experience on which I was
the collegiate experience on which I was
the collegiate experience on which I was about to embark how to pick my friends
about to embark how to pick my friends
about to embark how to pick my friends and how to put myself in the right
and how to put myself in the right
and how to put myself in the right situations and as I tell you this story
situations and as I tell you this story
situations and as I tell you this story now as I tell you this story now I have
now as I tell you this story now I have
now as I tell you this story now I have chills and as I read that letter for the
chills and as I read that letter for the
chills and as I read that letter for the first time in 30 years sitting on the
first time in 30 years sitting on the
first time in 30 years sitting on the floor of my unfinished basement I cried
floor of my unfinished basement I cried
floor of my unfinished basement I cried I wept thinking of a man my grandfather
I wept thinking of a man my grandfather
I wept thinking of a man my grandfather that I’ve not seen in 25 years who I’ve
that I’ve not seen in 25 years who I’ve
that I’ve not seen in 25 years who I’ve now been reintroduced to because my
now been reintroduced to because my
now been reintroduced to because my father decided to write a series of
father decided to write a series of
father decided to write a series of letters before he died 20 years ago
that’s the power of a handwritten letter
that’s the power of a handwritten letter that’s the emotion that can transcend
that’s the emotion that can transcend
that’s the emotion that can transcend generations and last for decades that’s
generations and last for decades that’s
generations and last for decades that’s why I’m so passionate about that right
why I’m so passionate about that right
why I’m so passionate about that right that’s why I invite you to join me on
that’s why I invite you to join me on
that’s why I invite you to join me on this letter-writing journey to the
this letter-writing journey to the
this letter-writing journey to the YouTube can understand that how do they
YouTube can understand that how do they
YouTube can understand that how do they YouTube membership so the YouTube
YouTube membership so the YouTube
YouTube membership so the YouTube perhaps in 15 years 20 perhaps 30 years
perhaps in 15 years 20 perhaps 30 years
perhaps in 15 years 20 perhaps 30 years from now he will sit on the floor of
from now he will sit on the floor of
from now he will sit on the floor of your unfinished basement and he will be
so the question that I would leave you
so the question that I would leave you with today is a very simple one to whom
with today is a very simple one to whom
with today is a very simple one to whom will you
”
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