A HEART TOUCHING STORY OF PEN-PALS THAT BEING A GEN C I CHERISH
Once upon a time there used to be this ‘pen-pal’ or pen-friend’ thing. Digital communication was dreamy then. For my Gen C friends here is the quick lead-in about it (what I learnt from my mom). During 20th century precisely, the era of 50s and 60s, where tech and scientific progress was brisk, people wanted to come out of the confined well, to know the unknown. Newspapers classified Ads started publishing Pen-pals to elevate the idea of communication and to reach the swarm. Those Ads included pivotal information of a person such as name of the person and postal address. My mom during her teenage was so much fascinated that sent a letter to one such contact (by name which seemed to be a lady and trustworthy!). Months went by, no reciprocation while fading out the event, she got a reply with an acknowledgement and prologue to the lady for starting the conversation. Mom replied back and the letter-exchanges eventually kept live for 6 long years.
Clearly they became good friends who never met yet fathom out a lot about each other (even more than the friends they used to see everyday in person). One letter arrived once stating about her getting married and invitation my mom to attend and unite for the first time in person. Due to some reason mom couldn’t attend, instead sent a letter back with apology and good wishes for future.
They promised to remain pen-pals forever. And years gone, Mom waited impatiently for further letters from the lady and eventually lost heart speculating that she must be busy with her new life. A good 4 years later that long-yearned letter arrived from the lady stating that she was relocating to several cities in last few years, so she couldn’t write in. However now moved to the same city as my mom and expressed to meet. She mentioned a phone number on the letter as well. Mom rushed to call from land-line phone immediately in great delight, called repeatedly but phone number didn’t work! Went to the telephone company and they said there were some maintenance. Mom found the address from the telephone directory and decided to directly reach the address. Dramatic chronology continued when the house owner said, the lady and family had to leave the address due to some urgent crisis last month. Muddled my mom noticed the letter date and realized that letter was dispatched few months back! This was heart-breaking! Mom eventually sent a letter to the old address of the lady mentioning mom’s address, own and neighbor’s fixed-line numbers (she didn’t want to miss any chance of get reached), anticipating that one day the lady would most-definitely read and get on to. My mom spent years cherishing the gifted friendship she got.
Then Gen C mellows
One sunny morning in 2007, the sun was gleaming more than usual. I got a ring on my mobile from an unknown gentleman who was looking for my mom. While asking about the reason, he said he is son of my mom’s pen-friend! He went to his ancestral home and found heaps of letters. He contacted fixed-line numbers mentioned in those letters which didn’t work (Gen C advanced far more). He then tried social network, after a bit found my mobile number. He expressed desire to let our moms meet. Rest was like a dream come true, a dream that you never wish to come out from. We arranged a get-together at our home. I still remember when the house-bell rang, my heartbeat accelerated, I could sense my mom’s teary eyes. MY MOM WAS MEETING HER ‘PEN-FRIEND’ A GOOD 30 YEARS LATER after enough dramatic consequences! The whole evening was magical. We were surprised to see the moms in less talk-tears-emotions-glittering eye-hands in hands mode. Their eyes talked so much for the years they missed each other. That one moment when I was looking at them I whispered “Thanks to Gen C world”. This is what gave us that incredible evening. Both moms couldn’t end vocalizing their thankfulness for us. They never ever imagined this could be possible.
Did we find treasure of life?
‘Phewwwww! Thank god’ that what my readers probably is feeling right now while reading till this! Aren’t my Gen C reader’s face expressing ‘thanks to the Gen C world” as well like me? The ‘happily ever after’ thing of this story wouldn’t be achievable without the Gen C evolution! We are thankful to the Gen C mode that doesn’t let us miss those valued friendship unless we personally try to go aloof. What if we still remained in the letter mode, we would have left with the letters as souvenirs and regret for not getting a chance to meet in person. That’s so eyeful of Gen C.
Letters->land-line->mobile->email->chat. Pen-friend ->WhatsUP. The journey is precious and what we have is to be treasured. Gen C Cultivates Communication.
