Ink, Paper, and Memories

Letters between home and me

Growing up in a boarding school, we were taught many things—discipline, responsibility, and independence. But among all the structured routines and academic pressures, there was one simple ritual that I always looked forward to: writing letters back home.

It was mandatory, yes, but for me, it quickly became more than just a task on the weekly checklist. Postcards and inland letters became my lifeline to the world outside the school walls, and I cherished those moments of connection.

In today’s age of instant messaging, it’s hard to explain the thrill of putting pen to paper. There was something sacred about those postcards and inland letters. Every week, I would sit down, gather my thoughts, and send a slice of my life back home—sometimes it was a summary of the week’s events, other times, more personal reflections. It felt like a moment where I could pause and share my world with the people who mattered most.

What I looked forward to even more, though, were the replies. Sometimes it was my dad writing back, and other times my mom. I still smile when I think of how I eagerly awaited those letters, but I had a soft spot for my mom’s letters. She had a way of sneaking in one extra bit of advice or news in the margins of the inland letter, almost like a “P.S.” moment. It was her version of Steve Jobs’ famous “oh, and one more thing”—and it always brought an extra sense of warmth and care to her words.

If I could change one thing, though, it would be to go back and hold on to those letters. I regret not having kept them, especially now, when the idea of handwritten notes feels like a forgotten art. Those letters were more than just pieces of paper—they were small capsules of love, wisdom, and connection, now lost to time. While I may no longer have the physical letters, the memories and emotions they carried still stay with me.

Writing letters became a ritual of love—a constant reminder of home in a world that sometimes felt far too distant. And even though the habit of letter-writing has been replaced by quicker, more modern forms of communication, I will always treasure the joy that came with every postcard and inland letter.

---

Hat tip to

Pritesh

for mentioning about ‘Postcards are the email of the day’ in this edition of his weekly newsletter Stay Curious. The article brought back memories and led me to writing this one.