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| Recycled envelopes |
I have before me a bunch of recycled envelopes. They are in various sizes, some as small as a postcard, others double the size. Some are plain, others have pictures or quotations pasted on as decorations. They were made by my brother-in-law's father in Pondicherry, in his last days when he was too breathless to do anything else but sit up in bed. It was one hobby of his that he pursued till the end.
Reusing envelopes has been a habit of mine for years. Some you can reuse as they are, some you need to paste a paper on the address section so that you can write the address afresh. Some you need to open out and then cut and paste them again (sometimes inside out) to make a usable envelope.
What was a fun hobby enabling me to use glue and a pair of scissors now calls to me differently. Not only reusing envelopes, I did and still do, reuse paper that has been printed only on on side. I remember being laughed at by some people, sometimes being called a "kanjoos" or miser, too tight-fisted to spend money on fresh stationery.
I still repurpose envelopes nowadays, though not as much as before. I realize how my childhood hobby, and that of my brother-in-law's father, helped to conserve, to reduce waste, how it led us to what we now keep emphasizing on - reduce, recycle, reuse.
I am glad I came across this packet of envelopes he sent to me. I will use them now with joy and mindfulness about our earth and how we use the resources we have.
