I began a written correspondence with my grandmother when I was a young child. We did not live within visiting distance, and writing was a way for us to “visit” each week. Sunday was the day she would rest from her labors on the farm. Taking her dime store pad of paper and a pencil she had no doubt sharpened with a paring knife, she would share her week with me in written words. Perhaps she had worked on her tatting or a new quilt pattern. She might have spent a day weeding and ing the garden or washing and hanging laundry on the line to dry. Each week’s letter captured her work and the details of her life. Through these letters I learned the value and satisfaction of hard work, patience, diligence in accomplishing what needed to be done, and self-reliance at being able to do something yourself.
The selection provided seems to be an example of a reflective essay. In this type of essay, the writer shares personal thoughts, experiences, and reflections on a particular topic. In this case, the author reflects on their childhood correspondence with their grandmother and the lessons they learned through the exchange of letters. The essay is introspective and focuses on the personal growth and values acquired through this meaningful connection.
