Member-only story
P.S. Write Back Soon: 3 Letters That Molded Me as a Writer
I held onto three letters for decades — until a towering twin tulip tree crashed through our roof in a 2010 storm. My husband and I had to empty the attic and move our family out for eight months so the house could be rebuilt. In the flurry of activity, I found this treasured mail again, then promptly misplaced it. But I’ve never forgotten the joy the mail carrier brought.
1
Beauty mail. As a young girl, I sent a fan letter to Schering-Plough, makers of Coppertone, and hinted for free samples. I loved baby-sized everything, from Jergens hand lotion (cherry-almond scent) to Johnson & Johnson powder. The company’s Consumer Affairs Office sent me back a letter and some little bottles. Who knew this call for products foreshadowed the magazine roundups I would later do, requesting dozens of samples of the hottest holiday toys or the top beauty creams? UPS and FedEx drivers rang our bell constantly.
2
Role model mail. I wanted to be a writer since Mr. Vafier asked about our career goals in sixth grade at St. Mary’s. I saw a byline for sportswriter Mary Garber in The Bergen Evening Record, based in Hackensack and delivered to our door by a paperboy. I didn’t follow sports reporting, but the name MARY popped out among a field of black and white —with mostly male bylines. I…
