Recently I read an article about a 65-year old woman who bought a bible at a used bookstore only to find an essay that she had written herself at the age of 10 and 2,000 miles away in Lexington, KY. It got me wondering about the importance of the written word and how what we write today can affect us years later. In history and archaeology, these are especially important tools as they reveal the thoughts and ideas of an individual during the era in which they lived. In today’s technologically driven world, we have text messages, emails and social media blitzing us at every moment and I think we as a culture have forgotten the importance of writing a simple letter.

Which brings me to a story about the importance of letters. This story involves my big brother, Adam Herson. When we were young, my brother was a avid sports fan. He could tell you the statistics of any athlete and even call plays during live football games before they even happened. I was awe struck at his athletic brilliance and wondered how he knew so much about sports and the nueansence of offenses and defenses. 

In 1989, my brother wrote a letter to Joe Montana wishing him luck in Superbowl XXIV.  While the San Fransisco 49ers would crush the Denver Broncos in that game 55-10, Joe would not reply to my brothers letter.  But this wasn’t because Joe was stuck up or didn’t have the time: the letter was never sent. 

On April 18, 1995, Joe Montana would announce his retirement before a crowded stadium in San Fransisco.  Despite playing for the Kansas City Chiefs at this point, Joe went out in style.  I remember this day vividly because when I got home from school, I picked up the mail and noticed a manilla envelope from the Kansas City Chiefs addressed to my brother.  I didn’t really think anything of it at first, but when my brother got home, I told him that he had some mail.  He took the manilla envelope and went around a corner and opened it.  There was a deafening silence that followed that was broken only by an “Oh my God”. I rounded the corner and asked my brother what was in the envelope.  He showed me: It was an autographed picture of Joe Montana in his Kansas City Chiefs uniform. 

It turned out that my dad had saved the letter and found it in a bedroom drawer.  He mailed it to the Kansas City Chiefs for Joe Montana to read.  The timing was impecable and I wonder what Joe thought when he read a 6-year old letter from an avid fan right before his retirment.  My brother would frame the photo and keep it on his desk for years to come. 

I think back to that moment and how simple a written letter on a piece of paper can go.  I’m hoping that it doesn’t eventually become a totally lost art for future generations as the written word can hold so much power, especially for years to come.