I’ve noticed that I get a better response if the e-mail I start is brief. I don’t do anything fancy (no colors, graphics or attachments). I just keep it “how’s it going” with something I know they’ve been doing (their latest activity or challenge or weather condition if nothing else comes to mind). Then I just give one tidbit of what I’m doing.

If I get a new e-mail, I don’t always respond right away. But I do try to acknowledge it within a couple of days or within a week. That seems to work for my family.

I e-mail jokes rarely. I get several from a couple of my friends on a weekly basis, but I’m not much into forwarding those (even those that say I’ll have bad luck if I delete it and don’t keep it going…too bad for me…hee!).

I do like to send e-cards. Especially if the personal greeting is short and really personal, like how’s Muffy (the new dog), that sort of thing.

E-mail doesn’t really work for some of my family. My sister and I communicate best by phone. Same with my parents. And then, neither e-mail nor the phone works for me to stay in touch with my brothers. I like to write little notes to them instead…(speaking of bothering people, I truly understand that feeling—that’s why I don’t like to call my brothers as much).

Lucky for you to get real letters! It’s probably a little intimidating to feel as though you have to respond in kind. Myself—I LOVE getting little cards or postcards, just getting that “thinking of you” card in the mailbox makes my day.

Well, that’s a long answer, but I hope some of what I’ve described gives you a little inspiration. Good luck!

Sends out a guessing game photo (hard to identify thing) to all of us and lets us know who was the first to answer correctly. but this really only works with the internet savvy part of the family….