As I write this, Baby Girl is just a few days from winging her way home after her first term in college. It doesn't seem like she's been gone that long. With an almost daily stream of e-mails and phone calls between us, there's hardly been a chance to miss her.

Thirty-odd years ago when I was in college, high long distance rates meant we were rationed to one call home a week. Mostly we relied on good old-fashioned mail — you know, letters. It's hard to believe there ever was such a time — but I found proof, in a recently discovered cache of letters I had sent to my mom from college. Reading those silly notes today, it's obvious most were just a set-up to ask for money.

The letters often ended like this: "Well that's it for now. Send more bread if you can. Miss you." (Yes, we really used terms like "bread" in the '70s.)

There also are accounts of culture shock not unlike what my daughter is experiencing: "It's been in the 40s in the morning when I have early classes. But I still wear my cotton dresses and slippers, and people think I'm crazy. Of course I wear coats and sweaters but when I take them off in class, I get the weirdest looks. But inside class it's warm, so it makes sense to me."

Or: "It's freezing and our room doesn't get any heat. It's ridiculous! How could I ever leave Hawai'i?"

The letters reveal the emotional highs and lows of being away from family and home. "I just want to tell you that I'm sorry for crying last night on the phone. I was very tired and I've been studying like never before for the past two weeks and I guess it was a culmination of all that frustration and self-doubt. I feel a lot better today. Maybe it was good that I had a nice cry."

And in another note: "I got your package today! Got me all stoked out! Thanks for all those munchies — I love it!! Keep 'em coming!"

The letters also contain a fair share of typical college-student shamming: "Got a 'C' on my last history test. The professor grades so ridiculously hard on a super tight curve. I've really learned a lot though, which is what's important to me at least."

Give me a break.

For the current generation of college kids, the delivery method has certainly changed, but the messages and overuse of exclamation points are familiar:

"Aaahhh, Mommy. I'm so homesick right now so I just wanted to e-mail you. I hope the Christmas tree is up and decorated and the whole entire house. I'm just listening to Christmas songs and drinking hot chocolate and being depressed. I love you!!!"

Love you back, babe, and can't wait to see you.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com.