>> that's exactly what happened for joanne barron, who lives at brookgrove retirement village and craves>> if you can't communicate, it's an isolation factor and it's very lonesome. >> thank you for the last letter. >> her penpal has become her friend. >> what i like about having the penpal, i can learn new things about her. >> reporter: new friendships learned the old fashion way, by handwritten words. words are power, words can heal, words can influence, words can inspire. >> and they can brighten the world of penpals of any age. >> the lost art of writing letters. the cbs overnight news will be back in two minutes. >>> and that's the "overnight news," for the tuesday, for some of you the news continues and for others check back later for cbs this morning and follow us online at any time at cbs news.com. reporting from the nation's capitol, i'm chip reid. . ♪ >>> it's tuesday, march 9th, 2021. this is the "cbs morning news." post-pandemic life. the cdc gives hope to a mask-weary nation, as fully vaccinated americans can return to a small sense of normalcy. >>> trial delay, jury selecti

>> reporter: that's exactly what happened for joanne barron, who lives at brook grove retirement villageman contact missing during the the pandemic. >> if you pandemic. >> if you can't communicate, it is an isolation factor, and it's very lonesom very lonesome. >> "thank you for the last letter." >> reporter: her pen pal, nine- year-old teggy igbe, has become her friend. >> having a pen pal, i can learn new things about her. >> reporter: new friendships formed the old-fashioned way: by handwritten words. >> words are power. words can heal. words can influence. words can inspire. >> reporter: and they can brighten the world of pen pals of any age. chip reid, cbs news, silver spring, maryland. >> o'donnell: what a terrific idea. and look how good ei we'll be right back. abilities. play your cards right, and you could be in for a tasty discount. [ clicks pen] let's roll. hey, check it out. one time i tripped on the sidewalk over here. [ heavy-metal music playing ] -[ snoring ] -and a high of 89 degrees. [ electronic music playing ] ooh! ooh! who just gives away wood? the snapshot app from p