I don’t often get post.
When I do it is usually either junk mail our a very angry looking letter in red writing from one of the many companies that my housemates and I owe for things like water and gas, so arriving home from work the other day to find a letter to me, personally, was lovely!
I immediately knew who it was from as the address was written in the most distinctive handwriting – it was from my Nan (grandmother). Margo (Nan/grandmother) has recently become ultra-tech savvy, texting and emailing her grandchildren frequently, using text abbreviations so ‘down with the kidz’ and character economic, I sometimes have to ask someone to translate.
Not bad for a woman who has celebrated her 21st birthday at least three times!
Anyway, digressing only a little further, Margo’s ability to circumnavigate 21st century gadgetry has meant that she is now one of Losing Face’s most regular readers. As wonderful as that is, it meant she read me describe her and my grandfather as ‘confuddled’ in regard to my family’s reaction to this year without cash.
Understandably, I’ve got it in the neck in reality and online for such slander ever since.
Back to the point; the letter from Margo. Well, at least the background to the letter…
Since moving away at 18, whenever I go back to my hometown for a weekend or a holiday, Margo always sends me off back to London with a little something, for the years before I started Losing Face it was usually money and it always meant a lot more than it was worth. Her kind contribution meant that I could buy a magazine and a coffee to accompany me on the dull coach journey back to the capital and that was priceless.
Since starting, however, my lovely parting gestures have taken all sorts of different forms and I often feel guilty for making the tradition so much more complicated. That isn’t to say they are no longer appreciated; hell, who would ever turn down a packet of Chocolate Hobnobs?!
Now, finally, the actual letter…
Upon opening, I found a brief letter explanatory letter from Margo and a gift card for Tesco’s! Brilliant! Knowing that I now spend the majority of my time, begrudgingly in the Tesco Empire, she had loaded a card up with credit so that I could buy myself some groceries, ‘on her’ without using cash!
Once again, in the face of the adversity of her eldest grandson’s odd habits and fads, Margo triumphs again and her generosity continues to heeds no bounds (technical or otherwise).
Margo, you’re the coolest grandmother I know and the groceries your gift card just bought me with be devoured with graciousness. Thank you.
NB: To any social media slaves reading this, before rinsing this on Digg etc, affection from family isn’t worth ripping on. Believe it or not, your parents do understand you – and that really is OK.
1 Comment
October 22, 2008 at 12:40 am
This is a very creative and impressive piece of writing! Good work!