My little sister just joined the US Army; she’s on her way to basic training now. I’m going to try to write her every day, but I want my correspondence to be exciting and interesting, and exciting and interesting things don’t happen to me on a daily basis.
Besides the usual chit-chat letters, which I will try to write well even if they contain no information of consequence, I’m going to be sending her pages from the novel I’ve been writing, which will give her something to read, at least.
What kind of letters would you want to receive if that were your main contact with the outside world? Jokes? Weird news from around the world?
I can’t think of a better place to find subject material than here on the SDMB!
There are alway cool links to odd stories, great threads about real life situations, comments on television shows, etc.
Or find some news story on CNN or MSNBC and run with it…tell her what is in the news and then give your two cents on it.
Also, it is sometimes just enough to write the mundane…went to the grocery store, laughed at the fat woman wearing the ridiculous short-shorts, price of strawberries cheap but the price of milk went up again, etc. etc. Believe it or not, stuff like that is somehow re-assuring to people in stressful situations as it brings them back to “normal” everyday life.
Anything you choose to write about will be gratefully appreciated. You can write about current events, you can write about who’s annoying you at home or at work. You can even write about TV shows.
Just go for something chatty, and light, and don’t expect too many replies (You should get some, of course, but free time is limited) and let her know you’re thinking of her.
-Former Navy
Anything, it doesn’t matter. Just whatever you did over the past few days will be good. You can even write a couple in advance, so that every day you have one to mail. Go ahead and mail one if you can, because there is a little lag in the mail.
Our son kept the letters we sent to him when he was at Parris Island. They meant a lot to him.
Basic can be really stressful or it can be a lot of fun (no, this is me on the level this time). I agree with sending her mundane accounts of what you’ve been doing, but also make her laugh. Best for this would be stuff like funny lists such as “Things to not put in your vagina:” because it will bubble up into her brain when she’s feeling down. If she didn’t have a dark sense of humor going into Basic, she will when she gets out. Also, look up some marching cadences online and send them to her. After a few weeks she may have the opportunity to march her platoon and it would be nice if she could keep time with something besides “left” “right” “left” or some of the tired cadences the Drill Sergeants have been giving them.
ETA: She is going to be EXHAUSTED physicaly and mentally most of the time, getting between 4-5 hours of sleep a night. She may not want to have to think too hard.