The Power of a Conversation in Writing

A classroom exercise blossomed into a correspondence.

While cleaning out my file cabinets, I came across a bundle of personal letters I had written to my parents from college many years ago. I use the word personal advisedly because my letters were not very personal. I monotonously listed what I’d done during the week but avoided mentioning how I felt about life, the problems I faced, and anything else my parents really might have wanted to know. I can only guess that my letters are typical of a...