By Staff
When I was younger, I can remember receiving chain letters. You probably remember it too. They came with all sorts of messages and threats if you broke the chain.
I have seen chain letters that offer the promise of wealth, health, dishtowels and recipes. I imagine there were other things that were promised in the letters, but in my progressing years, I'm having a hard time remembering all the other promises.
I do, however, remember knowing the letters indicated awful, horrible things would happen to the person who broke the chain. I don't recall that any specific information on the awful, horrible things was ever given. I suppose we were to use our imagination on how bad our life would be if we chose to break the chain.
My life would have certainly turned out better if I had helped keep the chain going. I'm sure that all of the despair I have experienced in my years is a direct result of my breaking a couple of chains in my younger days. I probably wouldn't be overweight, have gray hair or be in debt up to my neck.
Last summer, there were a couple of chain letters circulating around that I chose not to get involved in for many reasons.
With one of the letters, I decided I didn't need a closet full up flip-flops. I do know someone who did keep the chain going. From what I can understand, she now has 20 new pair of flip-flops in her closet.
To get a chain letter to fulfill its purpose, it must be kept going. There's a trick to it that is hard to accomplish. First of all, you have to copy the letter and send it to your friends. Most letters require anywhere from six to 10 copies be sent out. The trick is to send it to friends you feel will be willing to give this hoo-haa a try.
I'm sorry, but I don't think I have 10 friends who'd be willing to keep something like that going. I do have that many people that I count as friends, but I've got the feeling they have the same basic opinion about chain letters that I do. We have a lot in common. That's why they are my friends.
Chain letters have changed over the years and the U.S. Post Office doesn't get as much chain letter business as they used to get. Most of the chain letters I get are sent to me by email.
I've gotten chain letters that have only requested that I say a prayer for someone and pass the letter along. That's one that I've done several times.
A friend sent me a chain email letter for a recipe club. For anyone that knows me at all, they understand that letter is one I responded to with glee. When I got the first email with a recipe attached I was very excited. I quickly responded to the email and sent out one of my favorite recipes to 10 people and added names to the list of those who should be sent recipes.
The letter stated that I should receive 30 new recipes within 10 days if the letter remained unbroken. I automatically assumed since the letter was going out to folks by email, the response would be quick and everyone would participate. I was wrong. I only received two recipes and that took nearly two weeks to get.
I guess the days of chain letters, either through regular mail or email, are quickly disappearing. I'm not sad about that fact. It will certainly save me a few dollars in 39-cent stamps, and it will keep me off the email logs too.
So, if in the future you receive a chain letter of any kind, I'd certainly appreciate it if you don't send it to me. I've got all the bad luck I can handle in this lifetime.
Lisa Tindell is a news writer for The Brewton Standard. She can be reached at 867-4876 or by email at lisa.tindell@brewtonstandard.com.