Letter #20: 1/31/21
Stories of A Lifetime Presents: “The Letters”
Community correspondence sparked from the isolating 2020 pandemic focused on easing the burden of loneliness.
Hello, my name is Holly. I am 41 years old and a single mom of a 10-year-old boy named Easton. His father passed away from cancer three years ago. I enjoy writing, I love history, and I like DIY home projects. I miss my grandma, and I know that if she were alive, she’d be so happy to receive a letter. It wouldn’t matter if the writing was profound or merely about what I ate for dinner, it would make her smile. So, my friend, I’d like to write some letters to you. It will help me feel useful and less lonely, and I hope the letters help you and that they spark you to reminisce about your own life, love, and good times.
January 31st, 2021
Dear Friend,
We finally had a good old midwestern snow storm with accumulation well over a foot! Looking out over the prairie fields before the dogs and kids run through the yard is beautiful and peaceful. Do you like snow? I love it! I enjoy the change of seasons and winter activities such as ice fishing, snowmobiling, and sledding. I’m not much into downhill skiing. Are you a skier? What I like most about living through the harsh Wisconsin winters is that the freeze deters all the big bugs and reptiles from taking up residence here. Haha! I’m serious, though. Florida is all great until there’s scorpions in your mailbox and pythons in the subdivision pond. So, YAY it snowed!!
My home is set way back from the road and I adore my over 100-foot-long driveway lined with pine trees. My adoration was tested today as I shoveled almost all of it! It was good exercise and beautiful out so I didn’t mind it too much; however, at the 2.5 hour mark I decided to call it good enough. I miss having my truck with 4-wheel drive that I could count on to get through deep snow. My neighbor is very helpful, though, and he plows the big piles at the end of the drive.
An interesting change over the years is how many places close and activities cancel BEFORE the snow even begins falling. Cancellations and closures are announced based on the prediction of snow alone. Out of an abundance of caution and the focus on community safety, I suppose it’s a positive thing. However, it used to be pretty great to just wake up to find a snow-filled city and wait with anticipation as the radio announced what is closed for the day. It was fun, too, to just bundle up and get to where you needed to be. Some great memories were created because of snow storm adventures. I remember trudging to classes at the University of Minnesota through snow drifts up to my waist and sliding along glare ice sidewalks where ice skates would’ve been preferable. Ah, fun times that made us stronger. But today…I’ll agree to safety first. Describe a fun winter adventure of yours.
With today’s activities cancelled and being sufficiently wiped out from my driveway shoveling excursion, it’s time, my friend, to get the wood burning stove roaring and snuggle up for some movie watching. Have you watched any good movies or TV series lately? What are some of your favorites? I hope you stay warm, friend, and have snow much fun!
With love,
Holly
If you’d like to write back to me, you are very welcome to.
I will get a PO Box soon and let you know what that is. For now, maybe someone could help you scan and email your letters back to me at Holly@StoriesofALifetimeLLC.com. Otherwise, maybe you’ll find it helpful to just journal your thoughts and write them down without sending them. You do what is helpful to you, friend.
Conversation Starters:
Do you like snow? Are you a skier? Describe a fun winter adventure of yours. Have you watched any good movies of TV series lately? What are some of your favorites?