Axios Finish Line

April 17, 2026
Happy Little Friday! Smart Brevity™ count: 747 words … 2½ mins. Edited by Natalie Daher and copy edited by Amy Stern.
1 big thing: Your handwritten notes
We wrote last week about the charm of handwritten notes, and the letter-writing revival sparked by Virginia Evans' novel "The Correspondent."
Here's a selection of the dozens of thoughtful responses we received from you:
- "I recently got a kidney transplant from my second cousin. We grew up together and were very close, but drifted apart. ... The gratitude I have for her and what she's done I've shared with her as best as I can, but I kept putting off reaching out to her parents. ... I finally settled on a letter as the best way. I bought stationery, drafted what I wanted to say a bunch of times, then actually wrote it out by hand. It may not have been pretty, but it was authentic." —Sujata T., Gen X, Rochester, N.Y.
- "I enjoy writing and, as part of my senior leadership roles, wrote regularly to employees, peers and customers. ... I also began writing to my wife 45 years ago, a Christmas letter sharing how important she is to me and what I cherished with her from the prior year. She loved it, so it was an annual thing." —Ed S., boomer, Charlotte, N.C.
- "My book club read 'The Correspondent' and randomly paired members to exchange letters. My friend used her letter to me to share something she'd had on her mind for a while: the inner struggle she'd had over her decision to not invite me to her small wedding. It gave her a chance to let go of that burden — and gave me the chance to write back, reassure her there were no hard feelings, and tell her I'm excited to celebrate together at my wedding this September." —Devyn G., millennial, Hudson, Ohio
- "In my line of business, I received numerous invitations to various events. ... It was a handwritten letter/invitation that got to me. The organizer told me why she wanted me included, what it would mean to her personally and why. It was a small, 8-person dinner that I moved an international trip for, all because of the handwritten letter." — Emmeline F., boomer, Atlanta
- "When the task fell to me to handle correspondence and merchandise orders for my '80s punk metal band One Bad Pig, I took it seriously. We got snail mail from countries all over the world. ... We received a fair amount of fan mail, and the merch orders usually had a letter, or at least a note enclosed. I personally answered each and every one, answering specific questions, and letting them know how happy it made us to know they enjoyed our music." — Daniel T., boomer, Austin, Texas
- "My mother, Mary, wrote letters every day, until two days before the sweet chariot carried her home. Her daily routine in her last years: rise 'n' shine, cup of tea, write letters and postcards, bite to eat, get the mail, read the paper, read letters received, line'm up for answering. Rinse, repeat the next morning. ... Her six sons inherited the practice." —Ash C., boomer, Weybridge, Vt.
- "When I was in fundraising at a nonprofit hospice, I started writing handwritten notes to donors. As our momentum grew, I enlisted a volunteer to help me. I learned the donor recipients held onto those notes for years because they never received a handwritten note from anyone." — Bill A., boomer, Orlando, Fla.
- "About 6 months ago, my husband and I began leaving notes for each other when we leave the house for work. It's an almost daily occurrence, no more than 2 sentences, but it's something we both look forward to receiving. If one of us is traveling for a few days, we find ways to sneak the note into backpacks. A simple 'looking forward to seeing you this evening' puts a smile on my face every time." —Crystal W., millennial, Germantown, Tenn.
2. ✉️ Parting shot: A real letter!

Thanks to Finish Liner Jo Ann Pessagno of Potomac, Md., for this lovely letter that made my week.
- Jo Ann told us: "I send handwritten notes in a calligraphy format. People tell me they won't even throw away the envelopes because of the thoughtfulness behind the writing."
We're so grateful for the special audience and our own exchange of letters here. Another reader, Carrie A., recommends Postcrossing — a global sharing project that might be the ticket to your next pen pal.
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