My Beef with Forwards

I think I am a pretty reasonable person and I try my hardest not to let things get to me. I am a people’s person and I am always looking for news from family and friends.  However, when the only thing I am getting from certain folks is just forwards, it annoys the heck out of me.

I keep scratching my head trying to remember the number of letters I had received back in the day, when there was no email and no internet, that started with “FW: ” .  Letters that had pictures of kittens attached, religious scripture or even just requests to put the letter back in the envelope and forward it to everyone that I have addresses for (if I don’t do so, I will have bad luck for x number or years). The answer is always zero!

What happened to “Dear Haitham, how are you?  I hope this email finds in you good health.” or “What’s going on man? I was thinking about you and thought I would say hello.”?  Don’t get me wrong, I get a lot of those and they always make my day, but I also receive a lot of what I am talking about and I don’t read them.  I just delete them before opening them sometimes.

I AM always looking forward to hearing from you and hearing your news.  I want to know how your job is going and what the kids are up to nowadays.  I want to be here for you when you are down , wanting an honest opinion about what you are going through, or when you want to share your joy with me.

I AM NOT interested in Microsoft paying me a $100,000, why the end of time is here, or the funniest little johnny jokes.  When I have time during my day, I can get all of that with a few keyboard strokes and a mouse click.

If I had done that in the past to you, please forgive me.  I promise it won’t happen again.

Yours truly,

Haitham