So good to 'read' from you...

I must confess that I find it humorous to respond with "So good to hear from you" when the situation did, in fact, not require use of my ears. Clearly, this is an immediate response in the same vein of "God bless you/bless you" when someone sneezes - we're simply used to it.

The most popular story of the origins of "bless you" lies in the belief that when one sneezed, part of your soul was expelled. But where does the "so good to hear from you" response come from?

I tried researching this as most can find references of other phrases (i.e.: "the whole nine yards", "that ball had a lot of English on it", etc.), but I found nothing. So I offer to you my thoughts...

We take it for granted that most people know how to read. But if you were to travel back over a hundred years, literacy throughout the world was not common; it is thought that nearly 20% or less of the world's population achieved a literacy rate of 70% or higher - over 50%, the literacy rate was 30% or less. So the way we learned of news of family, friends, jobs, scandals, and political unrest was to 'listen' to a town crier or someone who could read letters and what not. So, yes, news broadcasts before radio and television - we spent more time in conversation as it was the primary method of communication.

But what of the usage of the phrase itself? Well, it probably just stuck like anything else. Going back to "bless you, " we've never stopped saying it (for my part, I say "gesundheit" which is German for to your health or good health). It imparts a personal warmth that a phrase like "so good to read about you" or "so good to read from you" does not convey. Listening is polite and proper. Seeing or hearing someone is a connection.

I'm not saying the written word has no merit. The volume of literature at our disposal dismisses that notion but how often have you wondered about being at a place described, or being a character or even conversing with the author? The written word almost gets us there.

So the next time someone drops you a line or two, give them a call and chat.

I'm available most nights after 9pm and weekends...