Considering the cost of so many other goods and services, a $.44 stamp to send a one ounce envelope anywhere from Maine to Hawaii and all places in between is still a good value. And let’s face it, after sifting through bills, junk mail, catalogs and magazines, whose face doesn’t light up at the sight of a piece of handwritten personal correspondence?

Green tears I totally agree.  I think the schools should also encourage more hand written correspondence as a personal touch and make it a extra fun thing for youngsters to do.  Example I always have my Grandchildren color their own cards for their parents write a note and I mail it for them.  Getting that in the mail is so much more exciting than hitting a keyboard.

I just had a conversation with my 18 year old son, who wanted to send his grandmother an email to thank her for a gift she sent him for his birthday — I told him this was a life lesson — only a hand written note on nice stationery was appropriate and I assured him that it would be extremely well received.  He didn’t argue the point, but I think in this age of electronic communication, it is important to not forget how much more meaningful a hand-written letter is — especially when one is conveying gratitude, a sentiment, or a condolence.

I use email, it’s a lot cheaper.

A friend is a high school English teacher.  In April, she teaches her seniors how to write a thank you note.  She stresses nice handwriting, word choice,  and correct spelling.  Email is a big no no.   For those concerned about postage, she will take care of that. Like many teachers, she often reaches into her own pocket.

The Post Office has been in dire straits for years.  It’s also considering five day delivery. 

We, those on the Internet highway, forget that there are millions and millions of people out there who don’t "get" the Internet like we do. They see no use for it, don’t want to know what it is about, and are content living oblivious of it’s existence. For these people sending a letter or card via mail is as normal as breathing. And so too is it for me.

I love the smell a newspaper, which is why I get my news on-line AND in print. I love receiving letters and cards in the mail. Which is why I send them to people via USPS AND Internet. I shop on-line constantly, which is why my mailman and I are on first name basis because of my countless deliveries.

I pray the post office will always be as pivotal to society as it is. The Internet is great for so many reasons, but like any other medium (radio, TV, books, magazines) for gaining information, it is okay to switch it up. Too much of one thing is bad for you, and no where is that more evident than when discussing the Internet.

I sometimes wonder if it is worth sending anything through the mail anymore. In some respects it is easier and cheaper using email if you go to an internet cafe, library or work. But you have to remember the monthly costs of internet service is also going up. Some of us pay anywhere from 14.95 to 29.95 depending on what internet service you use. Then there is the CAble/internet service where is is anywhere between 95.95 to 100 dollars a month.

It’ll be interesting to see who survives these changing times — and in what form. I know I mail all my bill payments, but it’s getting ridiculously expensive to do so and am finally considering paying all via Internet and doing my banking via Internet as well. Also, I get so much junk mail every day that by the end of the week I’ve filled bags with it for recycling and keep thinking sadly and with significant frustration: "yikes, all those trees, lost for what?" I’ll still hand write a personal note now and then, but all my business and most of my communications with family and friends is via Internet (not even phone). Bye bye U.S.P.O.[All this talk reminds me of a song from when I was a kid: I’ll send you all my love. Every day in a letter. And Seal it with a kiss. Who’da thought a new generation would look upon lyrics like that the same way we looked at tales of the pony express.]

Paying .44 cents for a stamp is still a great value.  The price, however, may increase again next May by an additional two cents.

I like to get a card in the mail for special occasions, and hate it when I get an E card. I also like to go to a card store and pick out a special card for that speccial person and mail it. It’s a lot more meaningful than getting a notice that you have a new email in your mail box, and find a card that you can’t really display for awhile. I am of an age where more people I know don’t have a computer than do. I hope they don’t get cheated out of getting a card because it’s too much trouble to do it the old way.

My dahlings, asking whether the "forever" stamp will save letter writing is like asking whether lowering the cost of buggy whips will save the industry against the car.  This is a perfect example of why, when possible, it’s better not to have government run anything, isn’t it, my dears?

The question begs, when will we see the next version of the "Forever" stamp?