Paper Dawn

Letters, written by unsteady hand on newspaper, margins of "occupant" mailers blank sides grocery lists, big X across the back of a page. One day, I saw it: a grandparent cross out a whole page, turn it over and begin a letter. But why? There is paper everywhere. Use everything until it is worn out. Depression era adults: born just as the Twentieth Century rolled onto newspaper ink; having scraped by, never bought a piece of paper. When I was on my own, working, using paper by the skeins, I sent my great grandmothers stationary and scented drawer liners for Christmas.