From writing letters to Web-only

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There was an article in the New York Times Magazine this weekend about a guy who created a Facebook event, inviting all 700 of his “friends.” Only one person showed.

It’s sad because it’s true. Facebook has made us too apathetic to remember what being real friends is like.

We’ve gone from meeting in person to talking on cellphones to e-mailing to texting to BBM-ing to Friendster-ing to Facebook-ing. Next thing you know, we’ll just be touching our nose or swiping our chin to send each other signals like they do in baseball. And what about handwritten notes? Does anyone under 30 even remember what those are?

I am hoping for a resurgence of the handwritten note -- a return to the romance of beautiful stationery, personal flair and making an effort.

It doesn’t have to be a Griffin and Sabine-style correspondence (though that would be lovely). But a nice tangible card or letter that says “Thanks” or “I’m sorry” or “I miss you” rather than a creepy “poke” via my Facebook page.

Also, there’s too much amazing stationery out there not to send a nice note once in a while. Favorites are: Mrs. John L. Strong, Carrot and Stick Press, Found Image Press and the crème de la crème -- personalized note cards from Cartier. Cost Plus has more affordable stationery, much of which is printed on recycled paper and feels as if you might have snapped it up while traveling abroad. How dreamy.

Ten years from now you probably won’t remember how many “friends” you racked up on a social networking site. But you can always hang on to a meaningful note or letter you received from a friend.

Someone should print that on a card.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Images of my personal stationery: top, Mrs. John L. Strong; bottom, Cost Plus.