This exchange from Two Gardeners gave me a curious sort of comfort today. May, 1959. They’ve been corresponding occasionally for a year. Katharine writes:
Dear Miss Lawrence,
Can you ever forgive me for having been so rude as not to write you long before now to acknowledge all the helpful things you have done for me and for your good letters and postcards?
She hastens to explain that she had fallen ill and spent a long time recovering from a kidney infection. This apology is followed by several wonderful pages of garden notes and commentary. And finally:
This letter is much too long and I must wind it up fast. Our first calf was born today and another will be along soon…The first bantam chick has cracked its shell and it is suddenly hot, so spring must be here at last. The seventy-five chicks for broilers and laying hens have come out from under the brooder stove. We try to do much too much and our lives are too full. I’m sure yours must be, too, especially when you get letters of this length.
Elizabeth responds:
First, please believe that I never even notice when letters are not answered, much as I love the answers when they come. I can’t bear to think that you would ever have answering on your mind. And in turn please don’t fault me if I don’t answer. If I don’t by return mail, I probably never will. I have had to give up writing letters to my close friends. And answer only business letters; and garden ones, for as you know that is the only way to get any real information.
By this point in the correspondence it is clear they are on their way to becoming real friends—Katharine ends her letter with “And I find myself quoting ‘Elizabeth.’ Do I dare call you that? Anyway, I’ll sign myself, Katharine”; and Elizabeth’s reply opens with “Dear Katharine”—and I love seeing how they’re working out the relationship. The warmth and mutual respect, the delight in finding a conversation partner who brings wit, knowledge, and original thought to the discussion of one’s pet subjects. Surely many of us who’ve connected with one another here in blogland can relate…
And there they are, in the late ’50s, when there were only a handful of television channels, for Pete’s sake, and no internet, no social media, struggling to keep up a valued correspondence in the thick of a busy and sometimes bumpy life.
As I said, comforting indeed.
Have I mentioned lately how much I appreciate your comments here? And how I wish I were better at keeping up my end of these many correspondences, both in the comment box and outside it? 
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By: andrea joseph,
on 3/3/2012
Blog: andrea joseph's sketchblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: travel, airmail, my Moleskines, new Moley, Scandinavia, AJ, penpals, andrea joseph, carnet de voyage, drawn by Andrea Joseph, Andrea Joseph drawings, Add a tag
So, lets get this show on the road. As I promised in an earlier post I'd share this new project I'm embarking on. It's basically a new sketchbook idea. A travelogue.
But, it's so much more than another sketchbook to me. When you consider that some of my Moleskine projects have taken as long as four years to complete then you might get an idea of how much I invest into them.
I always theme my sketchbooks too. I know it's obsessive but I see them as a whole, not a series of drawings. So, this is a project that I intend to get lost in. To obsess over. All for the love of it. I can't think of a better reason to do anything.
The idea is that I create a new travel journal. A carne t de voyage. But with a twist. I'm going to journal about places that I have never even visited. Yes. If you'd like to read more then click on the pages. This is the story so far. Hope you join me on this trip.
Hahaha...I know I will not have the time (or money) to go to all the places I want to see so I thought I'd make a fake travel diary while I'm in UK.
But will you make it to sheffield?
Lovely pages and a lovely idea.
Have you ever seen this site of real places, ignored by traditional guidebooks, that seem imaginary?
http://atlasobscura.com/
Brilliant idea. And a real inspiration for me to try visiting the places I can only see with my imagination.
Oh I got your Molezines in the mail!!! Thank you thank you thank you! I love them all! Had to blog about you ;)
last year, for Roz Stendahl's International Fake Journal Month, i travelled to Ireland (i live in the US). it had to be "real time" as it were, so i had to do a lot of research on the places i visited, and then create journal pages. it was all great fun! i can't wait to see what you come up with, Andrea ... i have no doubt that it will be enchanting as always :D
ps: i hope hope hope it becomes a molezine!!
Thank you, guys.
Michael, I tried to look on that site but my old laptop doesnt seem to like it. I'll try again. But who knew that there were all these people making imaginary journals?
Mo, I'd not heard of this 'Fake journal'. I guess you can never have an original idea.
Cheers, guys.
Beautiful work and great idea! I've been collecting "natural" things from around the world (sent to me by pen pals and far off friends) like rocks, leaves, etc. that has been fun. *bookmarks your site
You are so incredibly talented, I just love all your work..inspirational,poetic....a journey worth taking.
Thanks, guys.
I'm getting right into this. If there's anyone from Scandinavia who'd like to contribute by writing to me then get in touch.
Cheers, my dears!