American English (G.A) please
It was fun reading their version of an event which I remember happening, also interesting to note how different my memories are from their descriptions. On a more solemn note, I found there were many things going on that we as children were unaware of, since my parents wanted to protect us from whatever we might find worrying or unpleasant. It was only by reading those letters that I realised how many problems my parents had to deal with and appreciated the amount of thinking and care they put into our upbringing. Through the letters I also discovered interesting views on some people which I only knew as a child, but never saw much of when I grew up. For instance, we used to look forward to visits from a specially eccentric family friend, because we found him very odd and entertaining. My mother used to dread them. Apparently, with an adult’s perspective, his oddities were somewhat less amusing. As a result of this experience I am freshly converted to the advantages of letter writing. I too live abroad and have children. I do write to my mother every now and then, but I must say that I give in all too frequently to the immediacy of a quick telephone call. My mother saves my letters as hers did and my children could enjoy a nostalgic afternoon, buried in childhood memories one day. As my mother says, a phone call is over as soon as you hang up, but you can read a letter over and over again.
