What We Currently Have

20 Letters: #6

This is the sixth instalment of a series, 20 Letters, where I share letters I wrote and sent via the post, throughout 2020 and 2021, to people in my life. Read more about the project here.

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Dear N,

I know this is super random to be writing you 8 years after we last corresponded. I have lived in the same place in East London for 5.5 years and I'm moving apartments next week, so in the process of packing I discovered our letters from 2012. As old-fashioned as letters are, it's amazing to have a tangible artefact which captures one’s momentary thoughts and emotions. Everyone, myself included, takes for granted our age of convenient, instant communication so it's refreshing to use an older, slower form. I'm reminded of the opening lyrics from an excellent Arcade Fire song:

"I used to write
I used to write letters
I used to sign my name
I used to sleep at night
Before the flashing lights settled deep in my brain"

- Arcade Fire, "We Used to Wait"