When was the last time I got a letter? I mean a proper letter from a proper human being, beginning "Dear Tony" and ending "love, X". It must be years.

Yes, years. Holiday cards don´t count because they´re usually not accompanied by more than a signature after the pre-printed "Seasons Greetings".

E-mail has become the communication of choice bt it´s not the same, is it? I read your post earlier this morning and was inspired to unearth the pack of letters I have from when my husband and I were separated by an ocean before we got married. That was over 30 years ago and they have the air of museum pieces.