The ivory envelope was jumbled amid a slew of advertisements, catalogs, and bills. Recognizing the envelope's handwriting immediately, the rest of the posts were clumsily dropped onto the glass table. It was another note from him... This letter was all that mattered at the moment.

"On more then one occasion, long after I had set down your card, I happened to touch my hand to my face and I was immediately reminded of you by the sweet aroma that stayed upon my fingers... Even now I am haunted by the fragrance as the card sets upon my desk."

Have you ever received a love letter?

In this era of e-mails, texts, and smartphones, such an experience is rare but so well worth receiving. Smiling, rereading sections, the experience of every individual is unique, but some things in love never change. Throughout history lovers have tried to capture in letters the elusive quality of love itself. From the selection of the paper, or perhaps the image depicted on the card, and slant of the handwriting, every detail captures the most intimate feelings of the sender. While we have seen a current surge of sexting echoing in a new era of intimate correspondence, the sublime seduction of demure conversation in handwritten missives allows entrance into the drama of emotion, sharing the idiosyncrasies and universalities of passion. The detached acronyms and texting shorthand leaves much to be desired compounded with instant gratification. Wasn't there a time when anticipation of that deferred pinnacle heightened the entire intimate experience?

Two books I have in my home library are Love Letters An Anthology of Passion and Famous Love Letters - Messages of Intimacy and Passion. Both are filled with actual reproductions and facsimiles of romantic correspondence through the ages. Break the seal, slip out the contents and unfold the delicate paper of each entry. Biographies for both sender and recipient accompany the love stories. Words in passages of longing, exultation, desire, obsession, tenderness and passion span 2000 years of history and circles the globe, proving that love is genuinely the universal language. 

This time of the year attributes the onset of my relationship with my husband. We decided to begin dating after Valentine's Day that year, as not to become cliche. So many notes I received from him during the course of our courtship, each one is saved in a binder along with various event tickets and pressed flowers. How can I not be reminded of  our romantic beginnings, reminiscing, rereading his gentle words? Cherished are the memories invoked with this lost art of hand...

Wishing everyone a romantic and passionate Saint Valentine's Day...

xoxo-Sonya

When you have received a letter you first of all sit down; cutting open the envelope is done slowly and resolutely, as though diffidently raising the lid of an enchanted chest. ~Karel Capek