Ed Lynskey's Blog: Cracked Rearview Mirror - Posts Tagged "letters"

Howdy, all.

Mama Jo Fishback here. Ed asked me to say a few words here as his guest blogger. First off, he's from the Lynskey clan, shadow cousins of ours up in Virginia. Beings as he likes to write stuff down, he penned a volume on me and my folks called Lake Charles.

I've read it. Most of it is true. He took a few liberties, but I love him just the same. Yeah, the kids did drive up there. I warned them against it. But grown kids don't listen any better than the young ones, do they?

I won't rehash the bad things that went on at Lake Charles. You can get all that from Ed's book. I'm relieved it's all done, and I can get back to canning my jam. But getting back to Ed. He's the shy sort, hiding his talent inside of a crocus sack. That attitude won't do, no sir. He's got plenty to say, his voice strong.

Since the yarn is on me, you just know it's a cracking good one. Trust me on this. At any rate, I can hear the mail truck leaving, and I better get along now.

I'll be dropping in from time to time, so until later, be well and good.

Mama Jo Fishback

Last night I was reading the letters of Dashiell Hammett. They're funny, breezy, and chatty. He wrote them on the antique known as a typewriter.

I got the sense that he was a proud, sad, and loving family man. Then I wondered if letters are still written and sent. When did I last write or send a letter? I don't remember.

Email, texting, IM, Facebook, etc. have destroyed the art. Plus emails and letters are apples and oranges to me. Letters, such as Mr. Hammett's, seem more personal and intimate. I just can't envision The Selected Emails and Tweets of Dashiell Hammett (if he'd lived until now).

But then some emails are written in the style letters used to be. I know I send emails that open with "Dear Such-and-Such" and end "Sincerely, Ed Lynskey." Is that quaint old school? We can only hope that civility never goes out of style.