No one is born with their future written in stone; it took me years to find my own path. Looking back I can see now what I couldn’t see then, that the tiniest inspiration, if you love it enough, can be the gateway to a future. For instance, don’t laugh, (and most of you probably already know) but I always got an A in handwriting. At the time, no one got very excited about that (although, when I was around fifteen, my dad did take something I wrote to work to show his co-workers, something the daughter will never forget ♥), but really, how much more insignificant could an “achievement” be? Would you ever imagine there could be a life in handwriting? Me, either.
But yes, it can happen. Which, by the way, means anything can happen! This is the top of my calendar page for March. Musica? Oui! It’s a celebration of good old-fashioned letter writing. I love my grandma’s old letters that all start with “Sue Darling;” my old boyfriend’s 
letters; all the letters from my best friend Diana when I left California to move to Martha’s Vineyard. Our letters flew back and forth and now they’re like little diaries. They never get old; their details capture and hold on to a moment in time like almost nothing else. Except for the photos, everything on that calendar page was either written or painted by hand. The old letter in the upper left was one written by a beau to Joe’s great, great grandmother in 1881. On the right, is the front, inside, and back of a card I wrote to my grandmother when I was eight. As you can see, I was so excited to get to the p.s., I almost forgot to sign my name first! I’ve always been a P.S. Person!
Goodbye cursive? Get outta here! They’ve been talking about taking cursive out of schools. I saw this newspaper in a gas station while traveling last fall and practically cried before I ran to get the camera! My sister says the school her eight-year-old twins go to is no longer teaching cursive! Luckily my little nephews are amazing artists; they want to know how to do cursive and Shelly teaches them.
I think learning cursive was the first connection between my brain, a pencil, and whatever artistic talent I had; moving the pencil just so to form letters, to make a little curl on an E, to bend the top of a T. I don’t know if it happened that way for other artists — but what if it was the same thing for some of the most talented artists, for example, like Monet, or DaVinci (who taught himself to write cursive backwards!), or John Singer Sargent? What if it was??? No pencil, no connection = just maybe, no art.
And for sure, two out of these three books could never have been written if it wasn’t for cursive. Not to mention the Declaration of Independence, which wouldn’t have been half so interesting or informative if it had been written perfectly, on a computer, all mistakes and cross-outs deleted.
I have nothing against a printed book, love love love them in fact, but
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
this kind of book makes me feel history more than any printed book could ever do. Rachel (we met as pen pals and now we are dear friends for twenty years; go say hello if you have time!) sent me this old diary she found for sale in an antiquarian bookstore in England where she lives; she knew it would be my cup of tea, and she was so right!
This diary was written by a twelve-year-old British girl named Alice. She writes about her lessons with “mademoiselle,” about her dog, about teatime and what she ate; and about how much she whistles, which is practically every night. She really loves to whistle! “Dec. 4, 1906 Nothing special today, whistled in the evening.” It’s a little treasure; she might have thought it was “nothing special” but it is to me. I wonder what she was like as a grown woman?
♥ ♥ ♥
I would love to have known Margaret Cavendish! And, just imagine, no this:
I have no doubt at all that Nancy Luce’s writings and little books were inspired by her simple everyday school life here on the island, learning to make her letters. Despite her illness and loneliness, she still managed, through her handwriting (and her heart), to become the most famous person on Martha’s Vineyard in the late 1800’s.
And for sure, this would look very different if it wasn’t handwritten; my favorite book I ever wrote; the diary of our adventure in England. Sure it could be typed, but I love all the mess in this diary, it’s real, with crossed out lines and misspellings and lots of exclamation points!!!! I tried to make this first page neat, within reason, I didn’t have a ruler, but inside it looks more like my other diaries:
This was part of my diary entry for January 19, 1978; the first time I broached the question of how “real” writing was done. Sometimes people tell me they don’t want to use their handwriting in their scrapbooks and on recipe cards because they think it’s so bad. Could it be any worse than this? Would it really matter? Wouldn’t a great, great, great grandchild love seeing any kind of handwriting at all, as long as it belonged to you?
I’ve been keeping a diary on and off since I was nine, and constantly since I was thirty. These are probably the most embarrassing items I own. They’re bare bones, pathetically truthful, “scream of consciousness;” running the gamut of emotional health from A to B and will all have to be burned one day. They know too much. I never thought about “writing” when I wrote them, which is too bad; I would have liked to see myself wax poetic! I left out lots of details and told things that no sane person would ever tell. Because I wasn’t thinking!!! This is the truth, there was no thinking going on!!!
I was a gut-spiller in my diaries, and yet, they are part of me and my life, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, I am married to them. I bought my House of Creativity inside those pages! Our Christmases are there. My kitty, Pooh, died there. I moved to Martha’s Vineyard inside those books, wrote my first cookbook and met Joe. And without cursive, all that important stuff would be lost!
And you know what else? Without cursive, here would be no more of these!!
So I’m declaring this day, March 10th, “I Love Cursive Day,” and in honor of the celebration I am giving away not one, but three, things that will exercise your cursivity and leave a little herstory for the folks in 3012, who are apparently going to need it.
First off, I’ll send the winner of our drawing a package of these How to Be Happy Notecards. So she can send a little note to someone she loves, and put it on paper to last forever. ♥
In addition, the package will contain a signed copy of my new Grandma, Tell Me Your Story book. I wish so much I had one of these when my Grandma was alive; there are lots of family memories lost forever. I would have loved to know more details of her childhood. I never did hear about her favorite dress. ♥
The book is lined, and filled with good questions for a Grandma to answer, the ones I would have liked to ask; “real” ones, such as “Did you ever leave school without permission?” And, “Did you like to dance; did your dances have names? Who taught you the steps?” (That’s where I would write that my first dance partner was our refrigerator door handle!) When finished, this book will be something a family will cherish forever. If the winner isn’t a Grandma, I’m sure she will know one or have one and it will make a wonderful gift!
♥ ♥ ♥
And last but not least, this. It’s my newest recipe keeper, and I’ll be signing this one too. It’s smaller than our three-ring-binder-recipe-keepers which means it would be a quicker project to put together; the letter stickers come with it so you can add a name on the cover; you just fill in the recipe pages with your favorite family recipes, gathered in one place, to save forever, perfect for a newly wed daughter or son.
To enter the drawing for all three items, you have to be actually on my website, which most of you are (some people have the blog emailed to them via subscription, which means there is no comment button; if that’s you, just go to www.162.240.10.175/~susanbs3/susanbranch/) and leave a comment by clicking the word “comment” at the bottom of this post. That’s all, and in a few days, charmingly talented “Vanna,” our in-house random number generator, will choose a winner. Join my quest to save the cursive! And have a wonderful weekend girlfriends!
X O X O X O
Susan, you touched my heart with your writings today. I’ve been enjoying your blog for about three months and telling all my friends about it.
Interesting to see the copy of Joe’s great-grandmother’s letter from 1881 and that she lived in Stratford, CT. I live in a town called Trumbull, CT, which is about five miles away and it once was originally part of Stratford during early times.
I am a “hoarder” of the written word — have saved all my children and family members’ letters and notes and stuff them into drawers, cookbooks, etc. so that an unexpected stumble on to them on a given day is immediate cause for time to sit, read and reflect on wonderful pieces of our family history.
So enjoy your blog!
P.S. Originally from New Bedford, MA – so know your area very well.
Joe was born in Stratford!
I love cursive writing. I remember working very hard to achieve beautiful hand writing. I can hear my teachers praises some 55 years later. I only wish I wrote more letters to friends. Something I will work on in 2012. Wishing all who read this a great day.
Another lovely post, Susan! They make my day! Seeing all your journals lined up remind me of the bookcase in my den where I have all of my pretty ones sitting. Sadly, blogging has become like a diary of sorts and I write less and less, but you have inspired me…there are some things you can’t put on a blog!!
What a wonderful giveaway! You are always so generous! I am having one, too, if you want to pop over! Happy Saturday!
XO,
Jane
P.S. 😀
I am so happy you declared March 10th – Happy Cursive Day – (my son’s birthday), and so wonderful you created Vanna (Mr. RNG never picks me) – I love this post – it is always so happy.
My SonInLaw, a retired Marine, does PaPa daycare and is home schooling his three grands… 6 y-o twin girls and 3 y-o boy – this year along with their mother who is a teacher. What amazes me is they are teaching only cursive writing – no printing. I was extrememly happy to learn this, for it greatly saddens me that the schools are not doing cursive anymore. We were so very proud to have Madison and Morgan show us their handwriting last weekend. While we are not sure what the very well thought-out reasons behind this are, we do know the granddaughter is a well informed teacher who also loves working with middle school-age special needs children.
Wonderful giveaway and so generous of you – maybe one day Vanna will take a liking to my number, whatever it is. Have a wonderful weekend – Spring is such a beautiful time of the year. Judy C
Sometimes we think we’re being ‘modern’ and get rid of things. But if they would just go back to teaching the ‘basics’ in school our children would be better prepared for life. My husband gave out a scholarship and most of the seniors were straight A students all through their years in school. But guess what? You would not believe how many spelling errors they had on those applications. And how did he pick the winner of so many straight A students? The one with no spelling errors. We will always need to do math, sign our name, read and spell right. Not too much to ask, right?
I just love letters and have saved oodles of them. Most are from my BFF that is no longer alive… she and I wrote just like we talked and we went from one subject to another without paragraphs. I miss going to the mailbox and not getting one of her letters. And, it was a celebration when I got one and would STOP whatever I was doing, get a ‘spot o’tea’ and put my feet up and READ. I still have her letters and re-read them often.
I now have a quilter pen pall who lives in North Wales and one time she even put in the envelope a tea bag! Even though she has an email address, she still writes her letters and there’s nothing like an envelope that has on it…..
BY AIR MAIL, par avion Royal Mail with a Queen Elizabeth stamp on it!
I get those too, and know what you mean!
dear Susan! What a delightful story today about writing letters, diaries, and Cursive, I do love everything you write. I wish I could know you in person, but your blog alone is so inspiring. I have ugly handwriting, even though over all these years I have tried to change it, copying styles that I thought looked good (round fat letters with little circles for the dot over the i in 7th grade, straight up with no slant in high school, printing in tiny caps when I was working as a programmer, italic when I was homeschooling. I even tried to copy Spencerian penmanship which is the style of Joe’s g-g-grandmother’s letter in your photo) — now my writing is just a hodgepodge so it was encouraging to see your “messy” writing!
I have to tell you about my son, who, when he was 4 wanted to know what the “extra lines” were on printed letters…he had noticed the serifs and he wanted to use them when he wrote. He also discovered “Italic” so I got a homeschool italic course and he actually had very nice handwriting by the time he was in 2nd grade. Then we put him into school for 3rd, and when we told the principal that he wrote in italic she said “He will use the Palmer method here!” period, no exceptions. Well, that ruined his handwriting and I wanted to cry when I saw his papers that year. Why did they have to change what was neat and clear into something ugly? Now he’s an engineer and when he writes it sort of looks like an architect’s writing.
Beatiful handwriting is a real gift I think. My husband and daughter seem to have it, my son and I don’t!
Anyway, would love to win the give-away; but win or not, I Do Love your blog and all the pretty things you draw (and you too)!
Sandy in Georgia
Susan,you’ve inspired me to start a journal! This time I hope to keep up with it-I’ve started one so many times over my lifetime–but never continued.Thanks for the inspiration!
Naples, NY
Susan,
I believe I was in 5th grade, 1960, when our school district received its first supply of ball point pens (back when the schools provided supplies). We were so excited to be writing in ink, instead of pencil, even though these pens left big gooey blobs of ink on the paper.
I have always loved writing and getting letters. My sister and I live on opposite sides of the country and we still write to each other. I love getting home from work at the end of the day and finding a hand written letter.
Cursive writing is almost like a fingerprint. It wasn’t that long ago that you could look at someone’s cursive and immediately identify who wrote it. It will be a sad day if it disappears. Long Live Cursive!
I just sent a card to a friend from high school that I hadn’t written to in a long time and one of the things that she said was that seeing my handwriting again brought back memories …. “it really grabbed my heart”. It would be especially nice to win since today is my birthday 🙂
Susan, another great morning [from Lancaster,N.Y. ] reading your blog.I love the idea of putting in print and words thoughts that can be read in years to come. My young girl memories have come out around a large table when all my kids, spouses and grandkids are telling stories of things they have done!!!! They have learned tons about me as I have about them,some of which we might not have wanted to share but oh what fun these times are!!!! Thank-you for todays blog. I could fill the Grandmothers book over and over again. hAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!! Florence
I loved teaching third graders how to write in cursive. They were all excited to learn to connect the letters. I’m so sad that educators these days don’t feel the need to teach this wonderful skill.
what no cursive writing? It was part of children’s curiculum for as long as I can remember. I still remember learning how, and also my children. Loved getting a new writing tablet to practice and write sentences for our spelling words.
The grandmother’s book and recipe book are treasures for sure, hope to win, especially the notecards. Enjoy your day, taking cooking classes with my daughters today; it is all about the sauce.
what a wonderful give away. I have a new grandbaby coming in just 2 weeks. What a wonderful gift to give them,, a book handwritten by gramma full of my memories and life stories. A book full of my favorite recipes written by my hand. What a treasured gift that would be for them. Thanks you for you sweet blog.
I’m having chills reading this . . good ones, of course . . but chills nonetheless . . handwriting was never on the curriculum at school, but I did win prizes for my cursive script . . always First Place too! Then I arrived at the quote you included by Fran Leibowitz and was just thinking, “OMGosh, I’m such a gut spiller” when I read the next line! {giggling now}
Writing is a fundemental part of who and what we are, from those very first cave drawings that I think of as the first writing . . when man crawled into some dark recessed cave and drew with ground up dirt and his hands; pictures were their way of communicating in ‘writing’ so to speak (no puns intended) The spoken and written word go hand in hand. Those handwritten diaries are the most precious artefacts. We learn so much from them, the subtle nuances of how something is said and a bouquet of insight blossoms forth . .
Interesting it is to see how the cursive form changes over the centuries . .
Oh, I could go on and on . . I’d better stop now or I’ll still be here tomorrow. Suffice to say, I love this blog today, and I thank you too! Long live penmanship!
Happiest of Cursive Days to You! Don’t forget to include Cursive Day on the 2013 Susan Branch Calendars! I’ll be looking out for it now!
I just thought of Cursive Day this morning and the calendars are already at the printer, but I’ll be sure to get it on the 2014.
I couldn’t agree more…terrific post today. While printing may be easier to read, cursive has a romance about it. My daughter’s 5th grade teacher insists on cursive…and it began when one of her students received a letter from home while at camp. The letter was in cursive and the student brought it to the teacher to read to her…it’s not that the writing was sloppy, just that the student couldn’t read cursive. I second the motion to have an I Love Cursive Day!
Happy Cursive Day! I love writing in cursive! My mother was left-handed and had the most beautiful cursive writing of all. I worked very hard to write carefully and try to equal her cursive. I still write in cursive all the time. Printing is for babies! Thank you for reminding me about how special cursive is.
xoxoxo
Dear Susan,
I love the act of writing and using a “special” pen or pencil makes it even more special. There is something about that physical touch of writing tool to paper that makes the connection to our brain.. and the creative side of it! I am a third grade teacher, and have not, I repeat, NOT, given up teaching cursive writing! I have some little eight-year-olds who love cursive so very much, they use it for everything! I try to give them LOTS of paper, different sharpened pencils and the occasional pen to work with. Thank you so much for sharing your creativity with us all! it brightens my day!
Marsha
I love cursive writing! My Mother kept all my letters to her from 1967 until 1993 when she presented them to me in a big shoebox. Reading the early letters from my newlywed days, are such a treat. My husband was in the Army and we moved alot. The letters are like a journal for me today.
You are keeping journal writing and letter writing alive and well, Susan. I would love to win the prize but however that goes, you are inspiring the writer in all of us!!!
cursive day rocks! I am a teacher like one of the ladies who commented on your post earlier. and it is shocking how bad the handwriting of kids is becoming especially if not taught the rift way. It is definately due to technology kids now a days are exposed to. I am not saying that technology is a bad thing, absolutely not, but it makes things just to easy.
Emails and text messages and twitter are nice, but nothing will ever beat a handwritten card for a birthday or holiday or special event in somebody’s life, it shows that you care about that
person and that they are worth spending time on them. And Receiving a handwritten card given you that feeling that somebody cares about you as well!
Cursive day is the best, thank you Susan!
Hi Susan,
I love your notecards. I love to get letters, too! We have a friend, he’ll be 94 in May, and he tells me when he gets a letter in the mail. He’ll say, I got a ‘nugget’ in the mail today, in amongst all the junk!! Letters are great! Must remember, to get a letter, one must WRITE a letter!!
I had a pack of your notecards once upon a time and there was one in the set that was how to have tea, written by a little girl. It was adorable. I’ve long since mailed them all away and wish I had more! They were great as thank-you’s for a tea party!
My mom and dad were just here in FL for a visit from New England (MA). Mom is 82 soon and I would love to get all her memories in print!
Thanks for your fun, uplifting blog.
Happy Days.
Karen
i love cursive writing as well and encourage my grand daughter to do well at her writing-keep up the good work of saving lost arts!
The world of technology is crowding out many of the finer things of life. Hopefully moms and dads will take the time to nurture those things in their children (which is how it should be anyway).
I loved to write when I was a child, but as an adult decided that my handrwiting was not so good, so I always let my husband write things like addresses on important envelopes, our names on nametags, etc. He has a very steady, beautiful handwriting, and enjoys doing it!
Thanks for the inspiration to appreciate my own hand. And the inspiration to send a letter!
What a fabulous post! I knew schools were dissolving art and music programs, but handwriting? So very, very sad. How many children who may have struggled with school work, were saved by their talents in art and music. It kept them engaged and gave them pride in themselves. Something they were good at! I will make sure my son and daughter-in-law teach their children cursive if their school is not. Loved the Maragret Cavendish quote. What a sense of self she had for a woman in 1655! Would love to win the give-away….but not the reason we follow your blog!!!!!!!!!
More RAINS for West Texas…already have more rain since Jan. 1 than ALL OF LAST YEAR! Such a blessing.
So now I vow to write more….by hand….for my children and grandchildren. Love to you, Susan and your household, for your inspiration, your talent and your heart. And thankyou Lisa G. for that sweet prayer.
I Love Cursive Day is going onto my permanent calendar right now!
I’m with you Susan like never before!!!! I’m jumping up and down waving my arms saying “Yes, Yes, Yes”! (I sound like Meg Ryan) Save cursive writing, save handwritten letters and notes, save the shop around the corner (whoops, getting off track again 😀 ) We see everyday where hand written correspondence is becoming a lost art. I will continue to send snail mail, even if a stamp cost $5! It is something I am passionate about, and something I love! I treasure my great aunt’s handwritten recipe cards, letters and notes from generations before. Oh, let’s don’t let it fade away. Let’s be strong ladies, write on! Thank you Susan! You are a gem. I know I’ve told you before how much I Love seeing your journals and writing, today I won the jackpot, whether I win your give away or not. So much joy! I’m going to miss the March calendar page when I have to turn it, but know there is more happiness and smiles to follow. P.S. This is a post I will come back to read often. 🙂 P.S.S. Love the picture of your diary’s all lined up on the shelf. A joy for you today, and a treasured gift for someone in the future.
I agreed with every word until you got to the last 7! Yikes! 🙂
Dearest Susan~
Thank you so much for the beautiful blog today. I am sitting at my desk with a cup of hot coffee and it is raining outside. It has rained constantly since yesterday but your words always bring sunshine and smiles. I agree with you about the cursive handwriting that has been part of my artistic expression since childhood, so I picked up my pen and officially wrote with great flourish “Happy Cursive Day” on my SB blotter calendar. (To anyone else reading this….EVERYONE should own a SB blotter calendar! The pages are thick and designed not only for writing but great artwork and expression of your own. Colored pens and ink do not bleed through to the next month’s page. I LOVE it!!) Thank you for just being you!
Kisses~~Karen
Yay, another cursive writer! My mother always told me how nice my cursive was in grade school and I grew up loving to write stories, poetry, journals and always note cards. To this day, I look for people to send notes or cards to and hate that cursive could die out with this generation. Such a beautiful mode of expression should live forever and I, too, kept all my old diaries and journals which hopefully will get burned before my children get their hands on the juicier ones, especially those of the angst-filled teenage years and those crazy college days. Your cards and note cards make up most of my card and stationery drawer and I receive so many compliments when I send one of your beautiful cards. I never realized how much people still appreciate receiving a handwritten now and I know make a point to send at least 4 or 5 random cards or notes a week as it makes my day to receive one also.
Spring has sprung here in Lee’s Summit, MO, in the heart of the midwest. Grape hyacinths and crocii peek through the grass and the iris shoots are showly unfurling themselves. I can’t wait for the lilac bush I planted last fall to bloom and then to bring their delicious fragrance inside my house. Happy Spring to you and Joe – thanks again for making my day with a peek into your wonderful, creative and love-filled life.
Linda Trokey
That’s it! I’m going to have a handwriting contest at school. The sixth graders love a good competition!
Prizes? Hmmmm. A kite. Bubble wands. Stationary. Journals. Let the games begin!
I have MARCH hanging in my kitchen and it spurred me to one of my favorite Alexandra Stoddard books, The Gift of a Letter. Love it.
Your handwriting is beeeeeyoootiful and I am a handwriting watcher.
Brilliant!!
Susan, I just love your blog! When I first found it and saw your drawings, I knew I’d seen them somewhere before but couldn’t remember until you posted about Country Living magazine. I always subscribed to CL and saw your recipies and illustrations. Used to tell myself I should cut these out and frame them but couldn’t bring myself to “deface” the magazine. But I still have all the CL mags from way back when. Maybe I’ll dig them out and cut out and frame those pages now! CL has always been my fave. By the way, we were raised in the same era, I am two years older than you and I am a Gramma and would really love to win this give-away! I think it is a real shame that children aren’t learning cursive but there are so many things not being taught any longer that were taught when we were in school. We used to have singing where we learned alot of folk songs and God Bless America, America the Beautiful, etc. Have you noticed how many people don’t know the words to these songs?!!! Spelling is another thing that is being neglected. I guess they figure a spell checker will take care of that problem. Sorry, didn’t mean to climb up on my soapbox! Keep up your great blog and I will continue to enjoy it and get great ideas from it. Alma
Dear Susan – all throughout school my handwriting was very ordinary – and not in a good way. Not until later did I discover that it looked very nice displayed in a letter or even notes taken during lectures. Oh, so many years ago. Now that arthritis has taken it’s toll on my hands my handwriting is sometimes illegible even to me! When I look back at my grandmother’s beautiful handwriting, all full of swirls and shaded areas, I so envy her ability. Even more, I wish I had asked her questions about her growing up, just day to day details, that I never thought to ask. How nice to have your book to fill in details of my life for my eight grands. Thank you for your lovely inspiration.
Dear Sue,
I used to write to you as ‘Darling Sue Sue’ because you are so dear to us all. But never again because it is so close to your own dear Grandmother’s salutations that are very much treasured by you!
Love this post about cursive writing. Aren’t we all just in shock about this sad development.
Who is really behind all of these unhappy changes?!
I was very glad to read your explanations of the calendar parts, not to mention that all of this perfect writing is really your hand at work! I always thought it was too consistently too perfect..it must be machine generated. Yowza, you continue to amaze me!
I have to say, I reread my old letters too. Especially from my dear Grandmother, Lilla or from my dear mother, Mary who have gone on to heaven too soon. You are right, they bring back the emotions, scents, pictures of a time gone by that is so very precious………
Ohhh, I don’t mind!
Loved your blog today! My grandmother’s handwritten recipes bring her so close to me- I can hear her voice and smell her cooking, and feel the love in the curve of her words. I’d love to have my granddaughter remember me that way!
Thanks for the joy your blog brings to my life.
I, too, have kept diaries and journals for years. Unfortunately I suffer from a low embarrassment threshold and destroyed most of them – now it’s one of those things I regret most. I’d love to go back and rediscover the child and young woman that I was – memories are selective and very imperfect! About 15 years ago I changed my ways. My journals are messy – with a photo or postcard tucked in here, a four-leaf clover or pressed pansy there … lots of (very amateurish) sketches – movie tickets, brochures – the bric-a-brac of life.
I visit you every day – it always gives me a lift. I am a serious re-reader, re-watcher of movies etc. Pretty soon I’ll have your blog memorized! I don’t suppose you could write more? After all who needs sleep?
BTW have you ever read “The Flowering Thorn”, by Margery Sharp? English countryside, jaded young woman impulsively adopts a little boy, is forced to “retrench”, reluctantly turns ramshackle tudor cottage into a home, discovers gardening, learns to knit and changes her life. What more could one ask for?
Sounds like Diane Keaton in Baby Boom!
I learned cursive at Catholic school, with a nun standing over me watching as I laboriously tried to make beautiful letters. All through school my handwriting was not the best, but now that I am “old” I’ve been told I have beautiful handwriting. Takes a lifetime to perfect it I guess.
Dear Susan, while I am old enough to have learned cursive in school, I admit, I do not use it other than to sign my name. For some reason, I can write much prettier with print. My cursive looks like a child wrote it 🙂 But my husband and I are planning on homeschooling our children so mayhap I will teach them the “lost art,” and their handwriting can stand out from the crowd!
Happy “Love Cursive Day,” Susan…I couldn’t agree with you more. I look back to the days of learning cursive as such fun days in a wonderful childhood here in southern California. My cursive teacher was a treasure. A lovely Italian lady with the most exquisite handwriting. I always got an “A” in cursive from Miss Bugelli, and people still comment today about my handwriting. My love of it continues today. I have a penpal in Indiana. Sandy and I “met” through cursive letters in 1964. We have been writing since we were 12 years old, and WE HAVE NEVER MET. Can you believe that? Cursive pals for 48 years. She has every letter I ever wrote to her. What stories those letters tell…from a gawky little girl…to teenage years…romance…tears…joy…and a career as a police officer. It would just not be the same if they were not handwritten. I remember as a child the excitement I felt when I got a letter from Sandy, or my Aunt, or my older Sister in the mailbox. It was a treasure. I have a family keepsake that is a cursive letter from my Aunt Sara (my mother’s sister) telling my mom of the anguish she felt about losing her only son in a military plane crash in 1952. That letter, in my aunt’s handwriting, is so cherished. You can feel her heartbreak in every stroke of her pen. I hardly get any handswritten letters these days…except from Sandy and a few thank you notes. Everything is reduced to the mighty computer and emails. But today…I am writing a real cursive letter to Sandy, in honor of 48 years of long distance friendship, and Susan Branch’s official “Love Cursive Day.” Have a good one. Make the weekend count. Kathy Thompson
I love the idea of “I love cursive day”. I always agonized over penmanship class, and did practice–yet–always received a “D” as a grade. Teacher said I wrote too small. 🙂 But I have improved, and still love to send and receive real letters. There is nothing like finding a real letter in the mailbox! We’re losing so much these days—and have you seen the way spelling is going among young folks today??? Texting is going to be the downfall of our society! Yikes!!!!!
I LOVE CURSIVE! I cannot believe (well I can, but I am appalled) they are doing away with cursive. Cursive is so personal to the person and expresses so much. You just cannot get the same expression from printing, although in your case with your lovely calligraphy you can get close; and definitely not with the computer. Sometimes I think that moving forward with technology is actually moving us backwards.
I really appreciate your blog today and I’m behind you 100%. Let’s keep cursive alive!
It makes me sad to think of schools not teaching cursive… I also miss sending and receiving handwritten letters from friends, my cousin, my grandmother… I always loved to embellish with stickers, funny cartoons I would cut out, etc.
Here’s to cursive day!! (imaginary clinking of glasses)
Susan
I loved your comments on cursive writing. I googled learning cursive and there is a lot of worksheets and websites that teach cursive. I hope if they take cursive out of schools (unthinkable) that parents would teach their children the art of writing! I know that is asking for a lot, but I can’t even imagine a child not knowing how to write. Before long everything will be done by computer. This world is a changin’!
Angie V
The thing I love most about the computer is how it’s allowing organization by kids to do good. They are as idealistic as I am, but they are more connected, and are taking things into their own flying little fingers. Have you seen this video? It started with just one really furious guy, and look what he is doing! It gives me so much hope for the world.
My mom has the most perfect cursive. Me, not so much. I mostly print so that I (and everyone else) can read it. My dad prints and that’s where I probably got it from. But, cursive should still be saved, how else do you get a signature? Cursive! and everyone’s still looks different! How I would love to be the lucky winner of these giveaways. I would give the book to my mom so she could write this for all of the grandchildren to treasure…..so much we don’t know! It’s sunny in Cincy…..thanks for bringing happiness!!
I whole-heartedly agree with your “cursive” comments. I too always got an A in handwriting, and am now a calligrapher, so it transferred to art for me as well. My 7-year-old granddaughter, who is a born artist if I do say so myself, recently announced that they would not be learning cursive next year. Horrified, I offered to teach her cursive now (why wait until next year?), and we spent the afternoon having “cursive lessons”. I will do my best to keep this art form alive and well.
Happy Cursive Day, Susan! Your post made me think of two things. First, when I was a kindergarten teacher one of my students arrived one morning and announced excitedly, “I know how to write my name in curfish!” His pronunciation of cursive! It was not taught in school until second grade, so it was quite an accomplishment for him. (Sadly, it has been dropped by the Michigan district where I taught as well.)
Second, I collect vintage post cards from the early 1900’s. Besides enjoying the beautiful images, I love reading the little messages people wrote to each other on the back. The one with the most beautiful cursive I’ve ever seen was written by a father in France to his son in Ontario, Canada on November 24th 1917. It says, “With all a father’s love for an only son.” He made an X for a kiss and signed his name. This was during WWI and I wonder if he was a soldier and, if so, did he make it safely home to his son? Chokes me up just to think about it.
Oh no! That is so scary to think that the ability to write (and thus, read??) cursive, might be lost in just a generation or two. Perhaps there should be a Society for the Preservation of Handwriting – and I know just who I’d nominate for president! (You would accept the nomination, right? lol). It’s wonderful that you (and Joe – and your friend Rachel) have saved so many old letters and diaries. So much history between those lines. I could still kick myself that I passed up an opportunity at an estate sale several years ago, to rescue a huge trunkful of old letters from WWII. At the time I had no idea where I would put such a large trunk, but I wish I had found SOMEWHERE (though I did rescue many of their old family photos which fit in a smaller bag. Old photos are such a treasure too – it always makes me so sad when I see homeless old tintypes and photos. Why did no one want them – where did all their family go?). I can only hope someone else rescued those precious letters, many from two brothers, away in the war (sigh). What stories they must have told…Anyway, onward and upward and forward, away from regrets…Thanks for the opportunity and for the reminder to keep writing those letters! Emails just aren’t the same. Happy weekend!
I agree that doing away with cursive is a travesty! I treasure the old cards and letters – a love note my husband wrote to me 35 years ago that I keep tucked away in a special place, the last cards from my Mom and Dad before they passed on, letters from my college roommate during the summers we were apart, one of which was written on the back of adding machine tape and was miles long! Thank you notes from my daughter after she was grown and learned to appreciate her parents.;) I am waiting now for the first handwritten note from my granddaughter (at 4 a little too young – for now we are happy with “paintings.”). Treasures all! I don’t want technology to do away with the art of letterwriting, but I fear it will. Anyway, thank you for the post, and for all your generous giveaways. You are amazing!
Susan – happy Cursive Day 🙂 I loved penmanship class in school (a 100 years ago). As our handwriting improved so did the color pen we got to use. Powder blue was reserved for those with excellent handwriting and I’m proud to say I eventually got one of them. I still cherish my handwriting certificates… those were easier for me to get than ones in math.
If you want to see a beautiful handwriting certificate take a look at the one my mother got in 1927 from the Oak Bluffs High School (NOT the regional high school as each town basically had its own high school then).
http://mvobsession.wordpress.com/2009/08/17/old-documents/
Yay for cursive writing. I’m a sub at our school district. So many students don’t even have a signature because they can barely print their name. Cursive gives you a beautiful way to express who you are. I have tried lately to make sure my kids have a way of signing their names on documents. It’s easier for forge your name if it’s printed, but cursive is much harder.
I hope cursive doesn’t really go by the wayside. My dad had such a beautiful handwriting. When he signed my report cards (back in the sixties) I was always proud of that beautiful signature. He was also a painter. I think you are right about making connections, and I would think educators would see this. I think it’s also a way for kids to express themselves and to fit in and I’d hate for them to loose that. Thanks for speaking in favor of cursive!!
I guess I’ve been out of touch as to what is going on in today’s schools. How awful that penmanship is almost a thing of the past. I don’t consider that to be progress at all. I’ve always loved to write letters and still write in my journals every day; & I like collecting old diaries and ledgers. My most cherished possessions are two letters written to me in the 1950s by my grandmother from Wisconsin. When I read them now, I can still hear her voice.
I love the photo of your diaries. How pretty! Did you cover them yourself with fabric? Your blog is such a comforting, happy place to be. Thank you.
What a delightful idea…”Cursive Day”. The risk is real to lose that art what with all our technological wonders. Although Technology does enrich our lives in many ways…for instance, this lovely blog, it does also sadly deny us of that human individuality of handwritten communication. I believe that is part of what is so charming and welcoming about your blog because you always include some of your artwork with your handwriting. I am so happy that my youngest son (10 yrs. old) has embraced cursive. He’s very good at it and even though they are not “required” to use cursive, he does. It will serve him well I’m sure.
I just have to share these two little things from your blog today…my daddy also worked for the phone company…and did so my entire life. He was a line man and my hero! And, I also have had a pen pal in England for 30 years now! We began writing…real, actual, handwritten letters of course as it was so long ago, when I was a freshman in high school. Now we communicate mostly electronically, but today I am inspired to write her a real, actual, handwritten letter. She may wonder why, but I will direct her to your blog and she will love you too!
Although my grandmother went to be with the Lord and my grandfather last year, my mom entrusted me with a treasure and gave me my grandmother’s Bible. It has her handwriting and special verses. It was a gift to her from my grandfather, and he had written “To my Darling Wife, Frances for Mothers Day 1972.” I feel so privileged to have it.
As always, Susan, you inspire me to stay connected to those things that truly matter so much. Hugs to you!
I adore Calligraphy. When I was about 19, I was in a production of Godspell and I helped one of the girls put together a scrapbook with pictures from the show. I was fascinated when she pulled out an old fashioned pen and ink set and started writing captions in calligraphy (her mom was an art teacher). Thus began my love affair with the art of beautiful handwriting. My relatives always ask me to make invitations and pretty envelopes, and I do it for fun… I just love the look of it and I let the craft drift into my everyday writing. Even though computer fonts have become a part of our everyday lives, there’s still nothing like a beautiful handwritten envelope done with pen & ink …AND that’s what drew me to your books and magazine recipes to start with! XOXO Jacqui
Mahalo (Thank you) for sharing your journals, letters and comments about cursive writing. They brought my dad to mind. He had the most beautiful cursive signature…one of my favorite memories of him. Thanks, Susan, for bringing sunshine and joy to another day!
My sister recently found an old book about analyzing peoples handwriting. It has been a fascinating experience to look through it and find out how much of our personality traits come through in our writing, it is a mirror to your inner self. I never would have believed it if I hadn’t read it. It has really made me aware of the characteristics and idiosyncrasies of my own handwriting, thats for sure!
I so agree with you about the tragedy of the demise of cursive, should we allow it to happen. I was shocked when I learned it was not being taught in schools any more. I am so worried that future generations will not have the wonderful original resources to our families’ history through correspondence since everything now is done through internet, email and texting. When I was a kid, I used to so look forward to my grandmothers’ regular letters from “back east” (we were the only branch of the family in CA). How I loved it when a violet or a hankie or other little thing was tucked inside…a special surprise just for me. I am sad that these kinds of things are lost. Some of my most prized possessions are those letters now, and some that I saved from my mother, as well. Treasures, all. Wonderful post. Very thoughtful and lovely giveaway =-)
I love to write notes, just little notes, and I taught my children who are grown now to just leave little notes. That is how you communicate with the busy lives we lead. I have them all in a box, notes like ” I’m going to Sara V’s to do homework be home for dinner. Love you!” Sara My daughter’s best friend was Sara too. My son’s left notes also and I kept them, I love looking at their handwriting back then, it’s sweet and so are the notes. I would be out in the barn working and they would come home and find a note; ” I’m in the barn come find me after your snack. Love Mom. They loved it and they do it now, in their homes. It’s how we communicate. You’ve taught me now to embellish my notes and try my hand at drawing, we’ll see. Thank-you Susan for your love and inspiration in so many faucets of our lives. You touch me to the core and you are what they say; a true blue person, the salt of the earth, a person if everybody had in their life would be great and kind ! Thanks for being a true teacher, and reaching out to others in a wonderful unique way. OOOXXX !!!
I so enjoyed this post celebrating cursive, Susan! I, too, always enjoyed penmanship class so much and tried to make my Palmer Method workbook a true thing of beauty : ) Many memories as I was reading the post and many of these comments! I thought of the looseleaf paper with the little dotted lines between the main lines — which helped us make all of our letter the correct size. And when we completed our penmanship books each year, we received little brass pins (in pen & paper shape, of course), which we could wear on our uniforms or blazers. Learning cursive was wonderful – and then in fifth grade we could have our own fountain pens at school with our own little bottles of ink (my favorite that year, of course, was Peacock Blue — gorgeous!). Finally, when I became an English teacher at that same school after graduate school, one of my all-time favorite student comments was made my first year there. One of my freshmen loved my hand-written dittos, always decorated with little seasonal drawings. She told me that if there were an award for Ditto Decorating, she knew I would win it (I believe that would be one of those “achievements” to which you were referring……). So I, too, find it hard to believe that schools truly are eliminating the teaching of cursive – and love the grassroots movement here to keep it alive (I’m picturing all of the moms and grandmas sitting at kitchen tables with their offspring, quietly and subversively teaching an otherwise lost art of penmanship : ) Bye for now!
I so applaud your wish to save cursive! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Over time, my handwriting has deteriorated, and that makes me sad. So, I am trying to write a bit like you do. 🙂 Well, to write in a nice, simple, up and down, and no extra-big-capital-letters.
Write thus, where? On all the lists I write, for myself. And when I write down what-I-ate-today, in a little notebook. And when I add something to my computer-note-pad. Everyday things. For practice. 🙂
Hope it works. It certainly can’t hurt! ,-)
“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.”
~~William Wordsworth
How you brighten my day with your words, beautifully scripted, and the darling drawings. I’m sure there is always a smile on your face as you tell us of your adventures and daily activities. We are truly blessed with the the technology to be “touched” by your words almost instantly instead of waiting for something to show up in the mail box. (Although finding a surprise in the mailbox is always a good present.) Thank you every day you post- makes my day that much better.
Sue Darling,
May I suggest that on your 2013 calendars, you include “I Love Cursive Day” on March 10th. I too, love cursive. I too, got an A in Handwriting. And, even though I am a computer analyst by day, and aspiring writer at night, I believe in handwriting over computer fonts. (I also believe in long division over calculators but that is another story.)
Recently, I took up Calligraphy as a hobby. And, thanks to that, my grocery lists now look quite lovely. Maybe one day, Long Division will be someone’s hobby (besides myself, of course).
Thank you, again, for the opportunity to be entered into one of your wonderful and very generous giveaways. Blessing to you and Joe and your kitty-babies.
XOXO, Priscilla
It’s too late, they’re at the printers. I’ll do it next year.
Dear Susan, I am sure there is a connection between cursive and brain development; they just don’t know it yet 🙂 When I moved schools in 5th grade I had to learn a different writing method. It was difficult to do and some days (many years later) I find I still have mixed the two when thinking more about the message than the pen.
I love to receive notes and letters and try to write them often to others.
Happy Cursive Day!
I really think there is a connection!
Your blog today reminds me of Fred Orth, the principal at Third Street Grammar School in Los Angeles during World War Two. He had the most perfect handwriting I have ever seen, and I was so impressed that it set a standard for me that I have always remembered.
I read with dismay the same information about the loss of cursive writing. Alas, where are we going? Giving up that kind of quality is sad. It is like saying we don’t need to say thank you anymore in a personal way.
Oh, well! I am getting old. So glad you are showing that there is a beautiful way to live to younger people with your blog.
Ever grateful, Judy Tracy
Susan,
It is always a pleasure to visit your site and find a lovely new post!!! and
It is wonderful to go back and read journals and diaries and “remember” things and events I had forgotten all about… I found some I had written after my little brother had passed away and some I wrote after my father’s passing.. and some of the “memories” I wrote about would have been lost to me forever had I not written them down.. but as soon as I read the words on the page the memories flooded back in like they had happened yesterday… sweet memories.. things that made me laugh and cry… years before My mamaw passed away I had started asking her details about her life… How she met Papaw… where she got her children’s names.. just random things …. and now when I go back and read the little snippets of papers where I wrote the answers down on.. I can see her sitting in her chair by the fire “remembering” her past… not all of it was good but some of her memories were precious.. to her and to me. I have a box of old letters I keep too.. and Christmas cards past, from both of my Mamaw’s written to me in their own hand writing… you are right … I love having them!! I hope you have a wonderful day!!!
Thank you for your lovely post!!!
~Tina In Ky
Since I only learned to use a computer about 3 years ago I was astonished when
I would write letters to people and receive a note back that they were really
pleasantly surprised to receive a handwritten letter. Was my letter writing
becoming a rare thing? Then later I heard someone say if cursive were no longer
taught in schools that it might prevent future generations from being able to read
old diaries and manuscripts. Hmmm…interesting.
I felt sad when I saw your collection of your old diaries…Only a few years ago I
finally tossed two of my old diaries that I had written when I was about l2. I was worrying that anyone who might read it after I was gone would think I was
a little dingy…now that I am 68 I realize that most l2 year olds are a little dingy
at times. Perhaps I might take up where I left off at age l2!!! What a fun idea!
Oh Susan! I Love cursive too! At my school cursive is still being taught. Not like when I was young and learning though. I don’t think the way they are making the letters is as pretty now. But then, an artistic child will make it their own along the way. I loved this Blog entry, as I always do, and am so envious of your diarys over the years! I have a couple journals. One when I was so angry, I will have to burn that one! haha.
Funny, as I was out pruning in the yard a while ago I had such a Happy Thought! ..”I haven’t seen what Susan might have to say today!!” In I came! Hope it is a lovely day where you are! It is a sunny one here. Thanks again!!!
Good morning and a happy Saturday to you Susan,
I loved all you said about Cursive! It’s so sad about the schools not wanting to teach it. Computers have their place (what would we do without them) but NOT to replace the pen and paper! I’ve always loved writing letters, keep diaries and getting letters in the mailbox.
I’m hoping that I have a chance to win the prize this time around. Would love to have those notecards and the “Grandma” book especially.
I have a couple pairs of slacks that I need to hem up so will go do that now.
Have a great weekend!,
Carol
I now teach first grade and teach manuscript writing but when I taught 3rd grade I taught cursive. It was frustrating for some of the kids. So I would encourage them with a little story. When my sons were babies and would take their afternoon naps I would practice caligraphy. I had bought a special pen and I would practice every day.Of course the kids would ask me to write some of my fancy letters on the board. They loved it but my point was to practice every day!
Great post as always. Makes me remember the yellow card I have stored in a box in the attic showing cursive writing. I remember being amazed from switching from basic printing to cursive, stuck with me~~I much prefer to write things on paper then to having them printed from the computer. I thankfully was blessed with a nice style of writing as I too won several awards in elementary school (many many years ago) .
Debbie in Austin TX ***raining like cats and dogs today***
Good to know the rain has gotten further than West TX.
I too have kept letters sent to me from my parents when I went on a school holiday, for a week, in which they sent me some extra spending money, a 10 bob note-which was 1/2 a pound note. I was only nine,it was my first holiday away from my parents. It was wonderful to receive making me feel really special as no one else had got a letter from home and it contained money. I am now nearly 52 and they still make me feel special. I think we forget how special we were, as children, to our parents but these little notes are a visable reminder that are much more meaningful than a text or email will ever be because you can’t press delete Now I’m going to read all over again. Many thanks Marie-England GB
Our school here in VT stopped teaching cursive a few years ago. The young man, 18 years old, I work with is a product of this. It is soooo sad that he can not read my cursive notes. Thankfully now they are back to teaching cursive in the elementary school. My 4th grade little friend has beautiful handwriting. I am so glad that the teachers saw “the light”!!
My mother was 15 years younger than her sister, but they were very close. When mom’s sister moved to NY state in the late 1930s, they corresponded for years via good-old cursive letters. Unbeknownst to any of us, my aunt had saved every one of my mother’s letters to her — probably from the time my mom was 13 years old. When my mother passed away 30 years ago, my aunt gave the boxes of letters to me. Included in the letters is one describing her morning sickness when she was expecting me! Those letters — in mom’s beautiful, cursive handwriting — are among my most precious possessions.
Dear Susan,
I loved reading your blog today about journals and writing letters, etc.
Both of my grandmothers died young, but I had 2 aunts live into their 90’s and now cousins in their 80’s and I write regularly to them. Notes, cards, letters about plants, gardens, art, sewing, our weather ( since we all live in different parts of the country), our family and what they’re up to. In every letter from them they asked me to keep writing, how much they enjoyed the letters and shared them with their family. I saved and cherish my letters, old family pictures and the history about our family they shared with me. If it had not been for our letter writing much of that would have been lost to my part of the family. So, hopefully those of us who love writing will continue to do so, maybe it will encourage friends and family to continue the “old fashioned” way of correspondence. I look for pretty writing paper, cards and postcards and of course have yours in my collection. I look forward to your new postcards coming out. I love your “How to be Happy” card ! Have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Susan, Happiest Cursive Day!!!!! I just love teaching cursive to my second graders. They feel so proud and grown up, as they learn to write and read in cursive! We play classical music in the background to help us relax because we are working soooo hard. Now, just three months from retirement, I realize that this is my last chance to share the gift of beautiful penmanship with children. It has truly been year filled with special memories!! Thank you for the beautiful quote by Margaret Cavendish. It brought tears to my eyes and will have a special place in the front of my new “Renaissance” Journal. (I’ve chosen another “R” word for Retirement. I’m calling it my Renaissance!) Last year, I discovered a wonderful Website, combining my love of writing letters and travel. Have you heard of Postcrossing.com? This amazing project connects people from all over the world who love to send postcards (real postcards!). We share small details about our daily life, the place where we live, a poem, quotation, …. Everyone writes in English. Postcrossing is such an interesting way to connect with people I would never have a chance to know. I’ve discovered that we are truly all connected in some way!! It’s really kind of amazing! It’s such a positive way to make a small difference in the world! It would be a lovely family project to share with children or grandchildren, too. We can make the world a better place ~ one letter or postcard at a time! xoxo Dawn
Postcrossing, how wonderful, great idea!
Will investigate Postcrossing but what I loved is your choice of word substitution for retirement — I am pondering a substitution of my own now.
Susan,
I enjoyed so much hearing about your letter-writing! I recently dug my letters written to my grandmothers out of my cedar chest so that my daughter could see. How nice to time-travel back to see what was on my mind then. Just this past year I committed to improving my correspondence. I now have two pen-pals, and I’m trying to write thank-yous and other necessary notes as I was taught to. Strangely, I feel like I am finding myself once again in the rush around me. My books, my piano, my letters…connections to the real me.
Thank you for understanding,
Rebecca
So great to hear. It’s really all on the inside. xoxo
Thank you so much Susan! I, too, love snail mail and cursive writing and was so sad to learn that they’re going to stop teaching it!! We had lived in one town for 18 yrs. and moved 3 yrs. ago. I lived for checking my mailbox hoping to find letters or cards from my dear friends from home! What a fun give away!
Who are these people that want to get rid of cursive? Sounds to me like a bunch of unreformed Scrooges. What is next? Baking from scratch is too old-fashioned? Hanging clothes on an outside line is too much an eyesore? Next they will be burning books and forbidding chocolate! If this is progress in the 21st century, take me back to the old old days!!
I sure do love the computer, I want both! We want it all. And we can have it . . . but the kids, I worry about. Sounds like we have lots of home schooling moms and teachers that are on the I Love Cursive team!
Hi Susan,
If I’m not reading your delightful blog I’m listening to BBC Radio 4. I think you would enjoy this program about the instruments of writing and how we love pens, stationery, etc. They even talk with some school children in England about writing. Just go to BBC Radio 4 Programmes and look for “The Stationery Cupboard”. It takes 28 minutes to play. Enjoy! And please continue to brighten our days with your love of life. Yours, Kathy
Love BBC Radio 4 but hadn’t heard of that program, will go there, thank you Kathy!
I love that you’ve declared this “I Love Cursive” Day. I actually handwrote a note to a friend last night and put it in the mail this morning, so I’ve participated. 🙂
I agree that there is something special about a handwritten letter. I recently found letters my mother and father wrote to each other when they were courting during World War II. She worked in a munitions plant and he was farming. Her handwriting is so pretty and their letters paint such a picture of the daily life then. I treasure the letters.
I loved the letter you wrote to your grandma–so newsy and interesting.
Thank you, Susan, for all you do to inspire us.
Hi Sue!
Handwriting has always been fascinating to me too! I remember the day I became hooked! It was the third grade and the class was assigned a report to write. I looked across the classroom to the desk of my third grade girlfriend and noticed she was writing cursive with the help of a ruler! Her paper looked perfect and artistic, with every letter the exact size; even the tails on her lower case letters swoped beautifully with her after-stokes in perfect harmony!
That’s when everything about handwriting began to hold my attention; everything from the pens, to the pencils, to the paper! I had a fondness for stationary and I spent long, lingering moments in the Stationary Section of our department store, trying to decide which would be the perfect color and paper to buy.
Remember Onion Skin Stationary? When my “then boyfriend”, (“now husband”) was serving overseas, I faithfully wrote two letters to him every day for the extent of his Tour of Duty. Writing to him made the miles shrink away, which helped since 10,000 miles were between us! On his return home, he told me that many of the guys in his unit never received mail, and since “his” mail would collect over a period of several weeks until it could be delivered, Mail Call meant large pouches of letters just for him! Since many of the guys rarely received mail, my letters, (with a perfume smell still wafting from the envelope), were generously shared. Writing two letters a day about mundane things I was doing or stories about the happenings in our home town meant a lot to those other boys, who were all so desperate for any connection to remind them of home.
My husband often tells me, “Those letters kept me going”, and I marvel at how my hobby of writing became a “life line” for a lot of homesick soldiers!
So it goes with handwritten thoughts. Something which was once so common has been replaced by the world of Tweets and Facebook. Some how, the speed of a split-second typed memo just doesn’t quite measure up to the message that comes from the stoke of a hand, propelled by a loving heart!
I’ll join you in the campaign to Keep Cursive, and I’ll continue to hand write cards to my children and theirs, with notes of fondness scribed with my ruler!
Your cards would be lovingly sent to them with my messages of love, and I would fill the Grandmother’s Book with all of my life’s most precious memories!
Thank you for filling our days with all of “yours”!
Bunny
Dear Susan,
My sister and I write to each other about 3-5 times a week. She does not own a computer and never will. So we send snail mails. We are each other’s therapist:):) We only life 5 miles apart, but she works 3rd shift, so I can not call her. She will be retiring soon, but I want to still write to her. I get excited to have mail in my country mailbox. You are a great writer… keeping diaries must be a good way to want to write. xoxo, Susie(She Junks)
Susan,
My version of a diary is my gratitude journal. As I make a new entry – I am reminded of what is good in my life. Don’t get me wrong- some days I am not so deep. I may be grateful for a “good hair” day or a new pair of shoes.
Your blog often gets me thinking about more important things than shoes.
You are an inspiration girl!
Lani
Hooray for you Susan!!!! I also was shocked when I first heard of this!! ( I too received gold stars for my penmanship in elementary school.) I am now a Grandma of a 10 month old and a 5 month old and I cringe at the thought of what the “school world” will be like when they enter school. I just turned 50 and I’m beginning to think I may have to spend my senior years in the mountains so I’m not constantly cranky about modern society!! Thank you for letting me vent, but more importantly,thank you for expressing how sad the loss of cursive would be!!
Susan,
Yes! Yes! Yes! When I “found you,” my handwriting changed. I have always loved writing letters, and receiving them, and I took calligraphy in college. Your handwriting inspired me to create my own.
In January, Mary Robinette Kowal, an author and puppeteer, put out A Month of Letters Challenge….to write a letter, card, or postcard, and send via the US Postal Service, for every mailable day in February. The challenge was even picked up and put on the USPS website. What fun to know that you were a part of a larger effort to encourage correspondence. I sent 50 pieces of mail.
I have also kept journals, off and on, since 7th grade. And, I’ve wondered if anyone would care what I wrote a hundred years for now….might be better to burn them…ha! My journals today also contain drawings, hoping to improve my art work.
My 5 year old granddaughter ask me a couple of weeks ago to teach her to write her name in cursive. I think this is because she sees me writing letters, entries in my journal, and when doing art work with her. She stuck with it for much longer than most 5 year old attention spans…..hope her interest continues.
Rachel
You are definitely doing your part Rachel!!
Loved your post today. It makes me sad to think that some schools no longer teach cursive. 🙁 Those old writings you shared from Margaret Cavendish and Nancy Luce are a treasure! Thanks for sharing them. 🙂
Oh also Susan…with cursive writing going by the wayside, can spelling be far behind ,what with all the texting, who spells correctly?? Smiles, Susie
The first thing that comes to my mind is “let’s not think about it!” The old Scarlett O’Hara trick of life.
I am so glad for this post! YES- more kindred spirits who know the true importance of handwriting! Handwriting has always been a part of my life- an important part for I was the eldest and always went to get the mail- and I knew in a second who had written each letter just by the handwriting on the envelope. I was in third grade when I learned cursive and it was THRILLING- like the secrets of adulthood come alive. Every adult in my life knew cursive, and as I come from an artistic family, all the cursive was well done. My mother even knew some calligraphy and has always been praised for her handwriting. She has written in the information on marriage and baptism certificates!
My children are twelve and nearly ten and both know cursive writing- for I home school them and have made sure of it. I too have seen the pattern of schools dropping cursive and I say what a shame and disservice they are doing to our children! My oldest son started public school this year (grade 6) and they all had to hand write a paper and everyone in the class read each paper and left comments- well, he wrote in his best cursive (and it is GOOD cursive,too) and only one other child could read it! So many other kids left comments that they couldn’t read his handwriting- some didn’t even know what it was!! And with so many old and not so old items written in cursive, how on earth are these kids going to be able to read them? Why- they wouldn’t be able to read our Constitution on their own!
Thank you for sharing your own passion for the written word; I simply cannot tell you ‘right on!’ enough! 🙂
PS. (love these, too!) I have a box FULL of old journals too and I am so so glad I have ‘spilled my guts’ and continue to do so- much cheaper than therapy! 😉
Susan
Wow! Another great post-heart warming and thought provoking at the same time. I could feel myself travelling back in time to grade three and learning to write.
Susan M
Susan, dear, prepare…I have so much spilling over my cup this morning…gratitude…and then some…
I had to tell you, yesterday, husband Tim had to have surgery on his knee (all those years playing basketball in the 70’s with canvas converse hightops:) anyway, knowing it would be a long ordeal, I was prepared with my Gladys Taber book “The Book of Stillmeadow” As he was lying on the gurney, waiting for them to come get him, I read him a few excerpts…tears welled up in his eyes. He has a tender heart for new and old puppies, the stories from ages ago…old fireplaces and cooking over them…I told him, “This is why I love her books.” He nodded. I kissed his forehead as they wheeled him off. Everything went well and we traveled home in rush hour traffic, which left him white as a sheet. As he settled into bed, he asked if I could make him some hot tea (which he rarely ever asks for) the same kind I had made the night before. I filled the heart covered teapot with chocolate strawberry tea…served it to him in the british birds mug. He drank 3 cups…it made him feel so much better, he told me….
I know that the teapot…. covered with hearts…had to add a bit of magic to the healing, along with the sweet mug… It was made with love in a teapot made with love served in a mug made with love. I just had to share this with you and the girlfriends.
Now about this cursive…Can you believe that the publisher said they had a font that would look like handwriting, and that I was just doing an awful lot of unnecessary work!!!! GASP!!!! My handwriting is as much a part of the book as the illustrations…it is all art!! Can his font write in spirals, around and around in a circle? Teeny tiny messages on teeny tiny little books? Oh my dear Sue…what are we to do but declare this day March 10th Cursive Handwriting day! I always made wonderful marks in handwriting in school…training as a teacher, I had the best cursive writing, and was secretly hoping I could teach third grade…when children usually learn cursive. When they took the chalkboards away and put up dry erase white boards, my teacher dreams were just simply crushed. I’m the same way with books…if I can acquire the book close to its first publishing, I’d rather have it than a new copy. I love to open it and breathe in its fragrance. I can always tell if a book has lived in a library all its life…it has a unique smell….
Well, thank you for this post…for it is my heart, as well! And thank you for the connection to dear Mrs. Gladys…she loves gladiolas!! I can see why you have such a bond with her.
Have a wonderful weekend, and thank you again for every little thing that you do for us on a regular basis,
Your regular rambler,
Christie
….and, oh my, Pat Boone!! I loved Pat Boone!!!
I think we may have grown up at the same time because cursive was a very special talent that we really worked on at in school. Filling those lined spaces just right was very important in “my day”. It was an easy A+ for me. 🙂 I must say I take great pride in my handwriting and have always been complimented on it. My grandchildren are learning cursive in their Montessori school and I’m so proud that they take pride in it too! Happy Cursive Day! And thank you for your beautiful blog!
Dear Susan,
The things that I cherish the most, are the recipes and cookbooks that are written by my Grandmothers and my Great Aunts in their own handwriting. Granted, some of them are not the best, my one grandmother never finished the 6th grade, but what she did write, misspelling and all is a part of her. Those are things that can never be replace !!! So Happy I Love Cursive Day and maybe just maybe we can keep cursive writing Alive !!! Have a great Day !!!! Janet
Oh, Janet! Recipes are my favorite, too! I’ve been asked, several time now, to make a scrapbook page for a cookbook being assembled as a shower gift and I always write the recipe on a card as part of the page. The scrapbook pages are pretty, but there’s just something about a hand-written recipe!
Gala,
Keep it up, that is so nice, it’s like a “little” part of you will always be with them. Like fingerprints, no one else s handwriting is exactly like yours. Have a Great Day !!! Janet
Wouldn’t it be fun to be a handwriting analyst? Guess that is one profession that will disappear with the digital age. My handwriting through the years can be read like tree rings! lol I, too, was a diary keeper…most entries ended with a word to describe the day: happy, trying, exhausting…I guess the most writing some people do today is to sign the credit card screen at the store… *sigh* xo
Thank you for your posting about letters! I too wonder where will letter writing go with all of the e-mail communications. There have been e-mail ‘letters’ I’ve gotten from dear friends and family that I have printed out to save…not the same as the hand written letters I’ve saved over the years. A letter can be read, put in a pocket, re-read, framed, hugged, cried over, smiled over, loved over… I have started writing little notes and letters to my grand baby who turns 3 next month. The letters are in cards with pictures on the front that I think will make her smile. The letters themselves are just a couple sentences long with lots of pictures drawn by Bee – me! I’m ‘Grammy B.’ or as she calls me, “Bee!” and so I sign cards and letters to her with a picture of a bee smiling at her! Anyhoo…I see her almost every Sunday but if there is a Sunday I can’t be with her, I’m sending her a note by snail mail that she can see and have read to her. I wish I had notes to me from my Grandma long ago…she made me feel so very loved!
And you’re passing it on!
Thank you, Susan!
:o) Jane in Northern CA
Hi Susan
What a fabulous post. I love cursive. I loved it when I was little too. I really enjoyed that letter you wrote, how darn cute.
I homeschool my girls so I had no idea that they didn’t teach it in school. I do teach my girls cursive. Happy Weekend
deezie
Dear Sue, it really is sad, this trend of not teaching cursive. I was glad to read one post that mentioned the school is already reinstating it. Loved your blog today….that almost doesn’t sound right, though, as I look forward to each one and enjoy all of it so much, your writing, your art, and photos, along with the quotes and music you you choose. Thank you!
P.s. I always enjoy the references to the Long Beach years, as I spent time there while growing up, visiting relatives (especially my beloved grandmother). I loved your Life Story at the age of ten … a storyteller in the making 🙂
My thrilling life! 🙂
It would be such a shame to not get wedding invitations that did not have some cursive writing on it. I believe that you can tell what kind of a person you are by how you write. My one friend writes tiny and perfect letters and she is a little shy. Another friend writes Big and BOLD and that is the type person she is, loud and takes over. I don'[t understand the reasoning of it all.
What a wonderful blog post!
I can’t imagine art without cursive. Much of the beauty of my mysterious grandfather’s poems that he scratched out on old bills and receipts is the beautiful penmanship he used. I can’t imagine my baby boy not having the experience learning how to weave letters together on lined paper or to later in life remember the frustration of trying to connect an S to a B or execute a legible capital G.
I think we should keep it alive…
Please, please, please, don’t let anyone (or you) destroy your diaries. Think of any famous or maybe not so famous person that you would like to read what they were thinking at a given time. If your Grandmother had kept a diary, maybe some of the questions you have would have been answered. I’m sure that your following now is greater than Gladys Taber’s and with the response you get to your give-aways, anything of yours is valuable to all of us who follow your writings, buy your books, and for me, my house is not complete without your calendar. We love visiting with you, watching the videos that you post and sharing your day-to-day living as we would with a good friend. You are very special to all of us. I would love the note cards especially as I still write thank-you notes, and an occasional, “Hi, how are you.” greeting.
PS: My granddaughter, age 13, who lives with me is teaching herself cursive because she likes my handwriting.
I was hoping that you would post today. It is raining here and your posts always cheer me up. I love handwriting too…and paper…and graphics…I just love them. I am happy to enter this drawing. And, my fingers will be crossed until the winner is picked ! Here’s hoping.
Susan,
What a wonderful blog post. There are so many things that have become obsolete in my life so far (I’m not THAT old) and it makes me sad that my teenage children won’t ever experience them. I feel their lives are filled with instant gratification in too manys ways. Life is fast-paced for everyone, but you remind us to slow down and enjoy the ride. Thank you for that!
Happy I Love Cursive Day!
Dear Susan,
I so value what you are saying about teaching cursive. I am a third grade teacher and just 5 or 6 years ago there was time during the day to teach cursive and to teach them to make it right and connect the letters. Now there just isn’t time with all the academic interventions that are scheduled during our day. This year the team of teachers I work with decided we were going to try to address the dearth of cursive, social studies, and science that our little third graders were missing. We have developed a rotation where for one day a week, the classes go to a history class (taught by me), another day a science class, and the third day is a cursive class. It’s not as much as they need, but it’s better than nothing. So I am delighted to see you spreading the love of cursive and writing and I’m trying to do my little part too.
Thanks Susan! (Oh and I was so excited about the cursive talk, I forgot this was a giveaway too. Please enter me in that and I promise to send you a handwritten thank you note. LOL)
Definitely better than nothing. Good for you!!