Connection On My Doorstep
- jenminotti
- Mar 27
- 2 min read
By Debra Dolan
PROMPT—I am grateful for ...
After decades of living in an urban condominium where home delivery was problematic, due to theft at the building’s entry, I always purchased my dailies at a neighborhood convenience store. It was both costly and inconvenient; however, I am a hopeless retrograde when it comes to news-on-paper as I simply cannot bear sitting at a screen for hours reading. I love the tactile experience of holding a newspaper where I can smell the happiness of newsprint, eat while flipping pages at a favorite harvest table or comfy armchair with a glass of wine, turning back corners, and tearing articles or obituaries to share with others. Additionally, newspapers encourage me to read full pieces and not just the headlines.
One of the unexpected gifts of moving cities has been doorstep delivery. Besides the delightful sound of hearing the early-morning thud as I lay in bed, has been the valued connection these past months with the woman who’s responsible for my addresses route. It all started when Judy left a Holiday Season card tucked within a mid-December 2023 publication, including name and contact information, and I left a much-earned ‘end-of-year tip’ with thank you note the following day. I so admire her discipline and door-to-door service. She wrote next, “I was fascinated by your ‘calling card’ … with the lovely old typewriter on the front and intriguing library on the back. I ‘googled’ and read some of your articles.” And, it commenced, innocently and with increased expansiveness as we read carefully what is written, clarify, and contribute freely to broader topics.
We have been writing to one another 2-3 times per week. She is solidly now a part of my life and we look forward to finally meeting next month, experiencing the warmth of a fireside chat. Our notes to one another have grown in intimacy; sharing the joys and challenges of the past and present. There is a deep trust, curiosity, and wonderfully playful, yet serious, continuous engagement as we mutually use words to build a deeper friendship.
Leaving notes for one another this way is more personal than email yet faster than post.
Debra Dolan is a life-long private journal writer, pen pal, bibliophage, and a traveler who has sent postcards to herself since 1979. She is a member of the Story Circle Network (SCN), promoting women’s stories internationally, and a self-described pluviophile. Debra enjoys intimate 1:1 conversation over red wine, hockey, nature walks, and solo piano recordings. She has completed two book projects, Writings and Reflections: 1958 to 2018 and Writings and Reflections: Turning 50 in 2008 (Walking the Camino de Santiago). Her writings have appeared in numerous publications, including eight anthologies. Debra writes from West Vancouver, Canada.