Pandemic Letters!

By MISHA KEYVANFAR | Junior Reporter

Have you ever gotten a letter in the mail? Did it have your name on the envelope? Have you had that excitement of ripping open the envelope and seeing the letter that lies within? Or the anticipation of opening the card or reading the letter? This has kept me happy, creative, and in touch with my friends and loved ones.

Over quarantine I have developed a hobby: making and sending letters. One of the best parts is knowing that the person who will receive it will be excited to get what I am creating and that I get to lift their spirits. That gives me good inspiration to be creative and send my creations to so many people who are in need of communication.

During this time, we may be getting texts and calls from our friends and family, which is good, but getting a text is not the same as a letter, something that is colorful and can be customized to have inside jokes and all kinds of creative touches.

Sending pieces of art back and forth with friends and family is really a treat to me. Not only do I send letters to my friends but I also make art and send cards to people who are lonely during this time, including my local senior home to bring joy to the seniors.

To make the card, I have a stack of colored craft paper. I cut the paper into shapes and begin to decorate. I enjoy painting and drawing on the cards. I also like flipping through magazines, cutting out words or pictures to decorate the card.

Something special I learned is gathering flowers and leaves during my walks in my neighborhood and pressing them under books for a couple days. Once they have dried, I glue them onto the card with modge podge or regular glue. Sometimes I use stickers.

One of my favorite parts of sending letters is using U.S. postage stamps. The post offices have all kinds of cool stamps. I usually have a couple sheets of “forever stamps.” Those are worth $.55 each.

You just need one forever stamp for a regular card or letter in an envelope. If I send something that is bigger or heavier, I add more stamps. I have all kinds of stamps, including the basic American Flag stamps to the rare popsicle stamps and the Sesame Street stamps. My favorite stamps have Wonder Woman striking a different pose on each one!

It is really important to properly address the envelope, otherwise the post office won’t be able to deliver it and the letter will be sent back home. I have one special secret element that makes the things I make a zillion times better, which is love.

I hope this inspired you to make some cards and letters! Enjoy the process and it is for sure going to make somebody happy to get your creation!