Writing keeps us in touch with other people. We write to communicate with relatives and friends. We write to 1 our family histories so our children and grandchildren can learn and 2 their heritage. With computers and Internet connections in so many 3 , colleges, and businesses, people are e-mailing friends and relatives all the time—or talking to them in writing in online 4 rooms. It is cheaper than calling long distance, and a lot more 5 than waiting until Sunday for the telephone 6 to drop. Students are e-mailing their professors to 7 and discuss their classroom assignments and to 8 them. They are e-mailing classmates to discuss and collaborate on homework. They are also sharing information about concerts and sport events, as well as jokes and their philosophies of life.
Despite the growing importance of computers, however, there will always be a place and need for the personal letter. A hand-written note to a friend or a family member is the best way to communicate important thoughts. No matter what the content of the message, its real point is, "I want you to know that I 9 you." This writing practice brings rewards that can"t be seen in bank accounts, but only in 10 human relationships.