I know courting is such an old-fashioned word, but back in the 70s, people got to know each other before they launched serious relationships. This was known as courting. It was usually done in person.

I’ve been a writer since I was 12, so it should be no surprise that writing letters was my favored means of courting. Every woman in my life has been the recipient of love letters, some more than others.

My first lover got 90 letters at Camp Lou Henry Hoover, where she was a counselor. Our relationship flowered.

My second was in Boston while I was in Portland, Ore. one summer. We exchanged one visit each, but in a time of expensive long-distance calls, it was frequent letters that kept us going.

My third only got two months worth, when she moved to San Francisco from Hartford, and I didn’t even send a letter a day.

Perhaps not surprisingly, my 45 years of wedded bliss came after eight months of daily letters. It might have seemed obsessive, but it deepened our love. All it took was 240 letters.

I don’t think 240 texts or emails would have the same effect. So, courting by mail is something no one will ever do again.

I wrote a little song about this: Long Distance Love.

One other note (talk about burying the lede): I've not made any real money, don't expect to, but my songs have been streamed an inexplicable  6,000 times on Spotify. That's a lot of joy spreading.