Pen Friend Gifts and Tuck-ins

By Anna Brooker, England

A query from one of the readers sparked a round of spirited letters between some of my pals and me. Yvonne had written and asked me about some ideas for tuck-ins after I wrote my Christmas article on ideas for pen pal gifts. Wendy usually has a running list of tuck-ins on the pen pal commentary page and there are some thoughtful ideas there. I looked back over those and then wondered what response I would get if I asked my pals what they liked to receive in the way of tuck-ins rather than their ideas on what to send. The response was unexpected as my pals started to write back.

I got the usual responses at first mentioning bookmarks, stamps, stickers, gift certificates and that sort of thing. But then I started to get other, more interesting items being mentioned. Things that varied with age groups and hobbies.

Art and craft items were a fun topic for discussion. A good number of my pals say crafty tuck-ins rate a big "wow" factor. One pal was pleased to get an origami frame with a photo of her pal's cat in it. They are both cat lovers as well as crafters, so it was quite a unique thing to send/receive. Other pals said they'd received origami shapes and as a result one pal even developed a passion for paper folding herself.

Garden enthusiasts are thrilled to get seeds from their pals gardens. They get growing tips as well and that is way more fun that just picking up a packet of seeds from the local garden center. The seeds not only add something new to their garden, but also to the correspondence, they tell me. Likewise, those who enjoy cooking appreciated receiving recipes, spice blends, dried herbs from their pal's garden and kitchen and home tips that make life easier.

One pal told me she was happy to receive some pretty emery boards and a little packet of "soap leaves" which are paper thin sheets of soap that you carry in your purse for occasions when you find there is no soap available. She now likes to send them to her pals since they were such a big hit with her. She said she also liked receiving beauty counter samples from her pals.

When I thought back to the things I'd received that had really made my day, a single leaf comes to mind. Beautifully preserved in all its autumn glory, this leaf represented a window into my friend's world. It was sent to punctuate my pal's love of the autumn season. That simple gesture conjured thoughts of a crisp fall day, the air laced with wood smoke and a mosaic of brightly colored leaves that crunch underfoot. It's my favorite tuck-in.

With a little ingenuity, a tuck-in can take on any form these days. The most important thing is that it's a treat to send and to receive.