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Pen Pals and Postage stamps

 


 I remember when postage stamps were only 5 cents. On July 13, 2025 the cost of stamps went from 75 cents to 78 cents… wow 75 cents since I was a kid. I knew the cost of stamps at such a young age because I was always at the post office buying them. I had several pen pals from all over the world, England, Japan, Canada, Ireland and more. I always wanted to travel and meet new people. Having pen pals was the next best thing.

 

I corresponded with some pen pals all the time, while others just occasionally or just for a few months. I did have one pen pal who lived in Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset England. Her name was Leslie and we started writing to each other when I was 12 or 13 years old.

 

I enjoyed receiving Leslie’s letters and learning about her, her family and her country. We would write about our interests, our hobbies, or favorite songs, etc. Leslie was such a good letter writer and I was always looked forward to checking the mailbox and hoping there was a letter from her or one of my many pen pals.

 

Leslie and I kept in contact from junior high through high school. I was hoping one day to reconnect with Leslie as well as meeting her family and friends. Unfortunately, I moved away from home, then married and moved from California to Illinois. During the move I lost a lot of my belongings, and her letters were among them. I did reconnect years later and found out that she was in California for a quick trip, but alas, I lost her contact information again. Maybe one day, I will be able to reconnect. I hope she had a good life and is happy.

 

Have you ever had a pen pal? Do you still keep in touch? I would love to hear about your pen pal experiences. Feel free to leave a comment or two.

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