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
Was looking for your brownie recipe- thought it was in Girlfriends Forever, then remembered it was in “Autumn”. I was just reading in your book about keeping your diaries, then there it was on the blog. Made the brownies for Bunco. Hope to get the Grandma book for my best friend from 7th grade who will become a first-time Grandma next month! Thanks for being the bright spot in my day!
Love Melissa
I remember when I learned to print, I couldn’t wait to learn cursive. It seemed that it was so long from 1st grade to 3rd! It was a big decision on how you wanted your handwriting to look, slanted, backhand straight up and down. I tried every which way. Now I can’t believe that they aren’t teaching cursive. What will signatures of these kids look like? How will they make that unique. Or won’t that be important? That’s just hard to imagine.
Maybe handwriting will become a “fine” art!!
I am a recent “newbie” to the comment section of your website. I must admit I do prefer handwriting my cards and letters. Teaching cursive to 2nd graders was one of my favorite things to do in the classroom, usually with a seasonal subject and a picture drawn at the bottom of the page. Let’s hope this too won’t be a lost art. I cherish handwritten recipe cards and plan to give my soon to be married daughter and future daughter-in-law some I write and ones given to me. Thank you for your words about the importance of art and handwriting.
Dearest Susan…I heard the proposal to stop teaching cursive in schools and thought it was just local talk. Sadly that does not seem to be the case. Thank you for ALL your writings, I get inspired by reading your work and enjoying your art. Willard was so much fun to get in the mail years ago. I loved to carry that little letter to the sun porch or front porch swing with a glass of tea and read it like it was a letter from my far away best friend. I guess my own pen-pal. Part of the reason I enjoyed it so much was the visual experience, It was not a cold, computer generated, typed letter. I know you copied thousands but the writing and art work made it feel it was written for me. Sadly I believe that not having that special script taught will not open a window for some child. My daughter gave me your book, “Mom” for Christmas. I do not have pretty cursive writing however I try to make it neat and clear and most of all…MINE. Thank you for giving this open window to me…….
Hi-ya Sweet Sue <3 Hope all is well with you. Thank you for your lovely blog! I hope, hope, hope I win your wonderful give-away!
Dearest Susan,
I have been reading your blog for a relatively short time but truly enjoy it. I often wanted to respond but allowed the “urgency of the day” to intrude on putting thought to paper. When I read your entry about writing, I had to jot a note to thank you for your words and your artistry. Recently at the wedding of a friend’s son, an eclectic group of us guests were reflecting on the very topics you wrote about. It was one of the highlights of the evening. After reading your blog, I am inspired to re-connect with one of the ladies from the group and to also begin writing notes to my grown children. It’s not that we have such fascinating lives; it’s more that we’ll keep in touch and celebrate the little things that may spark old memories or be topics of future conversations. Thank you for the inspiration of your words and art.
A grateful heart, Brenda Bakker
Nice to hear from you Brenda! Thank you!
Hi Susan!
I have a hard time believing that teachers wont be teaching cursive in the near future. I remember looking forward to 3rd grade (Mrs. Brant’s class…she was the BEST teacher!) so I could learn to write cursive! I still have a few of my practice pages tucked away in a box of my special things.
Through the years I have kept journals and have always enjoyed handwriting letters. I had two pen pals when I was about 9 that I found through a tv show called The Big Blue Marble. We kept in touch for a little while. (I found one of them on Facebook a few years ago…what fun that was!)
My sweet grandma and I only saw each other a few times a year, so between visits we wrote letters. I wish I still had those exchanges. I do have one of her letters (her writing is so sweet!)…also tucked away in that same box of special things.
If I had to choose only one favorite page from your 2012 calendar, March would be it! I love how you laid out the page, the photographs of letters, your special letter basket… all accented with your beautiful handwriting and watercolors. Thank you for sharing your heart and home. I love the way your life is one big celebration (mine is too!)
With Love, from Orange County, California…Christy
I have no Grandchildren…..yet. I would still fill that book from front to back so nothing was forgotten. There are to many “what if’s” in my life. Thanks.
I am so happy to know that so many others share my love of paper, books, letters and the written word! I love your blog, Susan. Thank you for being a bright spot in my day!
Dear Miss Susan,
On the subject of diaries I just hope I remember to burn mine BEFORE I die – what if I’ve gone and there they sit and my older sister reads them? She’ll find out my true feelings about her (on that particular day anyway). Oh, God in Heaven, she’ll be mad at me! Maybe I’ll revise my Will to say ” no one is to read my old diaries if they are found”. Hmmm, I have to give this some more thought!
Thanks for all your stories Susan, from your fan out in Ojai California where it is very warm and sunny and COLD is a blustery day of 63 degrees!
xoxo Dixie G
I’ve torn out a couple of pages already, into to the fireplace!
I am a new grandma as of March 1st! Exciting new adventures to have. This was a little boy…who has a big sister who loves him dearly! I have the mothers journals…I have done them for each of my boys…it is all about them…and the different events and funny, embarrassing stories that I remember to record! They are pricelss…what a few minutes time can record…(that you think you will never forget)…then I read back in them and say to myself…wow! I forgot that happened…I would love to do a story about “Grandma”. I would love for them to know me…especially since they may or may not live close enough to build that relationship. I can buy one…but to win a signed one would be priceless also! Speaking of handwriting…my day had beautiful penmanship…like calligraphy…my sister has beautiful handwriting too…but me…I have become more messy as time goes by….after reading all these post…I may be motivated enough to make a change or two…clean it up a bit…make it better…never to late for change right??!!! Have a fabulous week…think spring!!
Dear Susan,
It truly is sad; they took prayer out of school and cursive writing, that is truly sad. I love writings from anyone. I treasure my daughter’s writing no matter what form. I take her wadded up pages out of the trash( without her knowledge of course) and save them. I still do even though she’s 24 years old and married, she will always be the sunshine of my life. I try to remember that my handwriting will be valuable to her and my grandchildren ( no matter how bad I think it looks). Oddly, if you compare my cursive toy mother’s, mine, andy daughter’s – you can not see any difference. I wander how often this happens…….? Love love your blog and everything you write about.
Susan!!!!!! I read a horrifying article about this in a magazine three years ago- them taking cursive away. In 3rd grade my teacher told me that I could do MUCH BETTER at my writing and kept me from a session of P.E. while I sat studiously improving my writing at the little desk where they sold the lunch milk and developing arthritis.
I LOVE handwritten letters. Yes, tech has made it easier for me to reach friends, but the correspendence lacks something… there is something sterile about a life sketch done in a plain font on a typewriter…. but someone’s handwriting…. oh!
Now, hold onto your seat- I have instilled this desire in my son by saying things to him about handwriting. And, you will not believe, but his teacher wrote that his hand writing/cursive is the most beautiful she’s seen! I have shown my son my old journals and shown him how sloppy my writing was and how wonderful his is and I think this inspired him to do it even better!!
As a teacher and researcher in the loose sense of the words, handwriting helps the brain learn. Just as physical education helps the brain and body function correctly! We need a cursive remembrance day! We need children who can write- not just for nostalgia reasons!!!!
Please draw a nice picture of a soap box with cursive on top!!
* Hello Susan *
I like you declaring March 10th being henceforth known as “I Love Cursive Writing” Day!
Your “looking back” stories were so touching and to think your beautiful handwriting all began long before you became an artist and handwrote all of your delightful books. My favorite photo that you posted in this new Blog is the one that is on the top of the page of your March Calendar. I would love to have that in a larger size, Perhaps 8×10, and frame it as a art poster.
I would place it on the wall, over my bookcase filled with your keepsake books, colorful boxes of your stickers and notes, near my white desk, in my cute and cozy office/den, where I write my handwritten letters and notecards.
And that I do all the time, in between computer sent e-mails to family, friends and your awesome blogs, of course.
A letter, as you said so beautifully in your March 10th Post, ….”captures and holds on to a moment in time”…yes, it truly does.
I think a letter is also a gift that bridges time and distance, as regular chats cannot. Pens move more slowly than thoughts, providing a chance to reflect and discover what is happening in our lives as one writes a letter. Letters do create that intimate narrative, much like a novel would.
Your “Looking Back” Blog is dear to my heart and guess what?
I would love to be part of the drawing for those wonderful gifts…thank you…
the notecards, story book and recipe keeper. Wow! One of us will be a very lucky girlfriend!
Happy Cursive Day! Susan and Girlfriends!
* Dorothy Ann on Cougar Mountain, Washington *
Hi Susan,
I have always loved handwriting, too. So much so, I studied calligraphy in college in Oregon, where they had a state “calligrapher laureate!” How about that? In the 70’s, children in Portland learned to write in italic — so beautiful.
I can’t image where cursive has gone. It’s sad. And, I’ve noticed that so many students hold their pens in such cramped and tangled ways, as if no one has showed them how. While I love all the font choices the computer offers us nowadays, they just can’t beat a handmade, handwritten note or invitation.
Wow! Calligrapher Laureate! How civilized!
* Oh! Susan. * Hi again…I just forgot to add to my post…
Did you write the “GOODBYE” above the little heart in the sand? (The picture at the end of your Blog).
Love it! and so apropos to your writing theme in the blog. I like to think, as you and Joe walked along the shore in Martha’s Vineyard, and just as you were leaving to go home, you wrote that and took the picture!
Those letters in the sand reminded me of a poem:
“Sand Letters”
Letters in the sand, are just like sandcastles…
How wonderful it would be to create them everyday,
Hoping for some perfect ones…
That won’t be washed away!
I know you always like to know who wrote a quote or poem. Well, it was…
* Dorothy Ann on Cougar Mountain, Washington *
Yes! We did write that when we were out on our walk, and took the picture. Love your poem Dorothy Ann!
How timely. I had also heard that cursive writing was falling out of favor and no longer being taught in some schools. Many people I know, especially the younger ones, write in printing rather than cursive. Sometimes it’s really lovely and easy to read, but more times than not it looks like something a child produced. Doesn’t strike the right professional note, that’s for sure. But I’m not one to talk since my own handwriting gets more crabbed and illegible every year!
My dear Susan – How good it is to read your blog daily….like a visit from home. I’m glad you’re so hell-bent (oops,sorry) on keeping cursive alive. I hate to print, much rather write in script. My grandchildren are not being taught script in their school – what a shame – their too busy being taught computers instead. What’s this world coming to?? I’m so glad you wrote a book for grammas. I want to write so my grandchildren know where I came from….like coal furnaces, chickens, walking to school, having cardboard in my shoes to cover the holes and so many memories. Thank you for being there for all of us ‘girls’. God bless you my dear. Love and hugs…….Marge Knapp
I had such poor penmanship in school that by Grade five my teacher, Mrs Folk, called my mother in and told her that she refused to grade any more of my work until it improved. My mother went out and bought books and workbooks on the McLean method of writing and I was made to sit for hours every evening practicing. It worked. I am told I have beautiful handwriting today. It was worth every excruciating hour! We seldom have cause to write these days, unless we make an effort. Keyboards and printers make it so much more convenient to just type and print out what we want to say . . . a handwritten letter though, that is a treasure indeed. My mother is an old fashioned girl. She writes a handwritten letter to each my sister, brother and I every two weeks. I truly value the time she spends doing this and I have saved each one. I know that one day the letters will stop and I will be glad that I have them. Another beautiful post Susan! Thanks for all that you share. xxoo
Marie, you are so lucky that you have these letters from your mother, what a wonderful woman she must be to do this for all her children. And, what a great chronicle of your lives for the next generation. I am missing my own mother these last twenty years on St.Patrick’s Day, she wasn’t a great letter writer but did have the most beautiful penmanship.
It is sad that cursive is not being taught in schools. Handwriting individualizes us and like a fingerprint identifies our personality. My 6 year old granddaughter asked for a journal the other day so I am inspired now to get a blank journal and write a small heading on each page for her to write in. Maybe a small quote or just an I love you would be good. As usual thank you for the inspiration dear Sue!
You could even ask her some simple questions so she sort of knows what to write about.
Great idea!!! 🙂
How fun~ What a cute little morning blog 🙂 I enjoy it so because I have always enjoyed keeping a diary and thought it was clever of you to keep the date on the spine 🙂 Hmm.. I think I will be doing that when I get home from the beach!
Love the goodbye in the sand. I love doing that- writing in various mediums. Have a great day~!
Dear Susan,
I applaud anyone’s love of good penmanship. When I was in high school and college, if I didn’t like how my class notes looked in my notebook, I would rewrite them. Today we would call that being anal-retentive. I even took notes in college with a fountain pen.
I guess it has paid off in a way, my high school students comment on my handwriting and always want me to handwrite the notes I have them take from the Smart Board rather than have a copy off the computer. Students who notice the little things – that’s a good sign that all is not that crazy in the world of mp3 players, X boxes and other electronic contraptions.
I just love your blog. You have so many inspirational thoughts. I wish I too had kept a journal when I was younger and saved all those old letters. I have a few, but wish I had saved more. I hope I win your new Grandmothers book since I have 2 beautiful grandchildren now. Thank you for taking the time to write your blog.
Colleen
I think you can tell that I really do love it. Thank you Colleen!
Love your blog! I promise to continue writing in cursive–my children too! My mom is 84 this year and I’d love for her to complete your Grandma Tell me your Story book! In any case, please keep up your wonderful blog! I’ve been a fan for years. Sandy
Good Morning, Sue! You really DO make my mornings more special! Please tell “Vanna” to try really, really, hard to draw my name! Thanks for being you…and have a great day
I promise to tell her!
Dear Susan, I use to just live to get a “Good Penmanship” certificate for my cursive writing in grade school. It always just seemed so important to us girls anyway. I also use to collect of all things holly cards. I have a little book with all my cards taped in along with old christmas card picture I would cut out with pinking shears. I even cut out extra articles or recipes and tape them into the cookbooks of yours I have. I would love to have that Tell me Grandma Book to fill up. Thank you so much for the happiness and inspiration you bring to us, I know your cursive writing and paintings sure make me happy and brighten my days. THANKS
Hi Susan,
Penmanship has always been dear to my heart. My Dad lost his thumb in war, and had gorgeous handwriting with only 4 fingers. We used to sit for hours perfecting our loops and letters together! Long live cursive!
I am a new subscriber to your blog, but have owned several of your cookbooks
for many years…your artwork and writings are really delightful….one might
even say “perky”, but Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore Show) would have hated that.
I, too, am sorry to see that cursive is being eliminated from our school curriculum, mainly because of the almost exclusive use of computers. But what
would we do without them? My mother and her sisters (90 to 95 years old if
still alive) were taught the Palmer Method and they had such beautiful penmanship.
Thank you for the generous and beautiful give away in March.
Pat Salada from Lebanon County, PA
Welcome to the blog Pat!
I started keeping a journal when I was 10. I love going back and reading them… my teenage dramas seem so funny now! 🙂 And I love seeing how my handwriting has changed. I will never win an award, but it’s fun to see the progression. Thanks Susan for your wonderful posts! They are a highlight in my day. I’m writing from southeastern PA, where my crocuses and daffodils are already blooming! Yeah for spring!
It’s our turn next!
Loved reading your blog this morning, I’ve keep a journal for at least 20 + years and have instructed my daughter to burn them when I die 🙂 But they have helped me over the years with the joys and sorrows I’ve had in my life. I love writing in them and also agree that a written (not typed) letter is so romantic and real. I hope that the art of cursive will not be taken out of schools. I have four grandchildren, only one girl and she would love to be able to read about her
“Meemaw”. I wish I had a book about my Grandmothers. Have a grand day.
A handwritten note, letter or diary is really a treasure. As a teacher, I am just happy if I can get my students to write – let alone cursive. In the day of texting, it is difficult to have kids understand what a “real” paragraph should look like! (I know that makes me sound like a grouchy old lady who is not in touch with technology …)
I never even thought about the paragraph!!
I think texting is also creating a spelling problem.
I think ur rite. uh oh.
It’s a beautiful day in my neighborhood. I hope in yours too! Thank you for all you write & all you do!
Hi Susan,
I just recently took my 16 yr old twins for their driving permit…amazingly enough when they asked my son to “sign” his name, he printed it. He had the hardest time writing in script. i never knew. He said ” mom, we dont have to write in script in school” i couldnt believe this.. its really upsetting that one day when he signs his own checks, it will be in print, so unprofessional. Im going to buy him a practice book like the little kids use to use. Ok thats my story 🙂 have a great day,
Debbie
🙂
This is so timely because I was going to order of of these items for a dear girlfriend for her birthday. I will still do so, but maybe now I might win one for myself. Thank you.
I’m with you, Susan: I can’t believe “they” aren’t teaching cursive in schools anymore, either. I, too, always got A’s in handwriting (and I’m left handed). I was always so proud of the fact that I had “pretty” handwriting — now my 20 year old nephew can barely write his first name in cursive. Alas!!
Susan ~ I have loved your writing since Day 1 and wish I could write the same way! I’m not a fan of my own handwriting…about like when someone hears their own voice after it’s recorded. Ugh!
Have you ever visited the Postal Museum in Washington, DC? The envelopes on display are masterpieces…very decorated and wonderful keepsakes for the recipient. Seeing all those wonderful examples (and yours, too!) really inspires me to take a little more time with my writing. I’d love to be entered for your giveaway!
No, I’ve never been there, never even heard of it. I think I would love it! Thank you Deb!
Sue, I remember going to the Postal Museum when my Mom and I took a trip several years ago. We bought and signed cards and had them post marked and mailed from the Museum…how fun for a memory of the trip. I am also a paper and pen-o-holic…I love pens of all types and beautiful colors of ink. In the cold winter months when I lived in Wyoming, I took a calligraphy class and learned the beautiful art of lettering. I love the words written in a beautiful hand and in beautiful ink! Oh, the newest pen and ink craze I have is called Zentangle…beautiful art of another type but still created with pen and paper. PS…Thank you Mrs. Reinhart for teaching me cursive so many years ago.
I’ve seen that with words, love it.
Hi Susan,
I can access your blog again – Yippee!! I emailed you last week about not being able to access it anymore. Looking forward to reading the postings I missed.
Love your message in the sand.
Happy Monday!
Heidi
Hooray! So happy to hear it!
May the Fates smile upon you for quoting my personal idol, Fran Lebowitz. I’m on a personal crusade to proselytize her limited works. Apparently, once again, great minds think alike. ~wink~
Genius!
What a wonderful Blog!! I’m a mother of a one year old little boy and will make it a point to teach him cursive when he is old enough. It’s such a shame that instead of making a point to teach our children a skill that has been around for centuries, schools are just giving up and giving in to modern culture. Thanks, Susan, for honoring cursive writing!!
I’m with you. Love cursive and have been fine-tuning mine over the years borrowing different styles that I admire. Guessing over time cursive will be looked at like hieroglyphics are now. Strangely weird but beautiful right?! They might think we were the last of a dying breed. So let’s Keep Cursive Alive! (I would type this in cursive but not seeing a font available). Happy day to you!
Great post, just choking up a little as I read the snippets of the English diary. And what a trip that must’ve been with Joe, sailing across the Atlantic. You give us inspiration every day, thanks Susan. BTW: I had to procter the S.A.T.’s on Saturday, and when it came time for the kids to write (in cursive) on the back portion of the personal information section, there was the usual groaning – with many saying that they did not know how to write more than just their name! I remember fondly also being a commended penman in elementary school, the nuns were big on this subject. There were even monthly submissions to a company for best penmanship samples (those were highly coveted)! Teachers across the country are also divided on this topic, many feel that there is much to be gained by continuing to teach cursive: a skill mastered, improved hand/eye coordination, ability to read primary documents from the past, and so on….!
Wow! Great give aways! Im a total believer in the lost art of real letters. Since facebook, no one sends birthday cards anymore! I have taken it upon myself to send real live greetings out to friends still. I love getting birthday cards in the mailbox! So I think others will appreciate it, right?! Its such a fun trip to the hallmark store to pick out cards. I just stand in the aisle and laugh and giggle for what seems like hours, while other people look at me strangely. Thank you for always giving us such inspiration as usual!! Xoxoxo
Oh Susan: I too have written daily about my life for a long time. I am now 70 and a grandmother of 7. I don’t know if any of them will be interested in them. I have the letters that my grandfather sent to his mother in WWII on YMCA stationary. I love them. He asked her for a rug for his tent. Can you imagine?
Why don’t my comments come through. It always says waiting for moderation?
I have to approve every comment, first off because I want to read them, but even more than that, the comment section of this blog is peppered with spam, so I have to weed it out and delete each one, and approve each comment. Sometimes I’m away from the computer, that will hold things up a bit. I do try to keep up with it, but you can see with these numbers it’s getting a little crazy. That’s OK, this is a kind of crazy I like. We’re looking for a new system that gets rid of the spam before it gets in here! Sorry Sally!
Wonderful!
Enjoyed your blog (as usual)….you took me down memory lane once again – TY!
It makes me very sad that people don’t send real letters any longer. As a scholar, I see how important these are. How would we know what Louisa May Alcott thought of her life if we didn’t have her letters to her Marmee to read? How would students learn how it felt to be a soldier in a trench during WWI without the letters that young man sent his Mum? How would we know what the first member of our family to come to this country felt when first stepping onto Ellis Island?
Letter writers Unite! We need to start sending notes agoin and saving them. Email isn’t the best way to communicate — it is the laziest! LOL And, while we are at it, write the letter in Your Very Own Handwriting! What a window to a person’s personality!
Write On!
I love cursive too!!! My dad had me sit down every evening and write. He also thought good penmenship was very important. At the time, I didn’t agree, but now I am so glad I can “write” and not just print….though nothing like you. Your writing is art in and of itself. I really think it is so kind that you think so much of us “girlfriends” to give us gifts. Thank you, thank you.
What a gorgeous post that really hit home! Thank-you for your love of precious, hand-written letters and for preserving the art. In one of her books the author, Alexandra Stoddard, let the world know she collects books that contain letters. She inspired me to start my own collection of letter books including children’s books with letters, e.g., “The Jolly Postman” by Allan & Janet Ahlberg and “Dear Mr. Blueberry” by Simon James. Have you ever seen “Lady Cottington’s Pressed Fairy Letters” by Froud and Berk? http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Cottingtons
PressedFairyLetters/dp/B000W0836Q/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331557911&sr=1-8.
I don’t own this one but you might like this book for your Peter Rabbit Room: “Dear Peter Rabbit” by Alma Flor Ada. http://www.amazon.com/Dear-Peter-Rabbit-Alma-Flor/dp/0689812892/ref=pd_luc_sim_01_04_t_lh
There are so many wonderful books out there containing letters but there’s nothing like sending one (complete with sealing wax) or finding one in your mailbox. I always know when I’ve received a letter because I can hear music coming out of my mailbox! Tee hee and tra la !
P.S. “P.S. I Love You: When Mom Wrote She Always Saved the Best for Last”, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. You said you are a P.S. person. So am I. I gobble up (and love to write) postscripts with almost the same excitement that comes when you take a hand-written letter out of the mailbox! I love this book full of loving postscripts.
http://www.amazon.com/P-S-Love-You-Wrote-Always/dp/1558538429/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331556363&sr=1-4 .
P.P.S.S. I taught some of my young students (actually my student pen pals) to include the following items in the heading when they compose a letter: date, time, the weather (e.g. sunny, blue-sky day, or hot and humid!, etc.), and where they are located when they write the letter (e.g. in the backyard, or at my desk, or at the kitchen table, etc.) What a difference this makes for the reader to be able to imagine the writer at work !
I do just what you taught on each post in my diary, the weather, the date and the time, but not where I was located. That’s a good idea! I’ve described my entire house(es) and rooms in total excruciating detail though!
Uuuggghhh! No more music. No more art. And now no more cursive. For 17 years i’ve been a faux finisher/muralist. So many of my clients say how lucky I am and how they wish they had some artisitic ability. I always respond with saying, “You do. We all do. In the U.S., you stop all art instuction in the 3rd grade. What kind of reader would you be if you stopped reading in The 3rd grade?” My luck was in the fact I was in school at the time when we had…wait for it…BAND! Yes, I was given an instrument, learned how to read music and some latin and had a ball! But it helped to unlock other things in our brains too, patience for starters. I feel bad for kids, i mean with all of the awesome tech coupled with all the awesome hand-eye-brain-heart things we learned, the world could be their oyster! Why should adults rob them of such a magic future? Thank you for all the magic YOU bring us everyday!
They all start out as artists!
Dear Tawni,
I am looking for a muralist. Where is your business located?
Carol
Sorry to pop in here, but in case Tawni is far away, my BFF Margot Datz does amazing murals on Martha’s Vineyard and all over the country. Love her, so couldn’t let this query go by!
Hello Susan!
I always loved cursive, but my love came more to the surface when my 5th grade teacher, Sr. Fidelis, broke her wrist and chose me – me! – to write all the lessons and tests on the blackboard. I was thrilled beyond belief. To this day, I love writing on a real slate chalkboard. One of the simple pleasures in life. My love of writing lead me to calligraphy which I do for invitations and such. Currently I am planning my daughter’s wedding shower, and I sent all the guests blank recipe cards for them to write a family-favorite recipe on. I think
a person’s writing is a way to see into their soul. I so want Alexandra to have a history of her family’s handwriting.
It’s disheartening to read that cursive will no longer be taught. We, as parents, can continue the love of cursive by showing our children how it’s done. Michael Sull, whose handwriting and cursive is beyond compare, also has classes he teaches on penmanship and, in particular, Spencerian script. To see truly beautiful handwriting, girlfriends, check out his website.
Hi Susan! Love your blog! I would very much love to recieve this treasure of books! I would so love to give the “Grandma” book to my granddaughter Lizzie (filled in of course). She is 11 years old and very interested in my life in the “olden days”.
Love Linda
Dear Sue,
Thank you for “Cursive Day”. I can remember as a third grader learning cursive. You were so grown up and writting letters to my grandmom, just to show off my handwritting. I would truly liked to be picked for the giveaways, but I am already a winner just following your blog. It brightens my day. Have a great day!
I remember writing my name in various cursive styles to decide which would become my official signature… this is my first giveaway sign up!
Susan ~ just a quick followup to my mention of the National Postal Museum and the beautifully written envelopes. I researched and found out that the postal museum is no longer sponsoring the Graceful Envelope Contest each year, but here is a link that will tell you about the Calligraphers Guild who is sponsoring it now. Check out some of the past entries – unbelievable! The deadline isn’t until end of April – you could enter your beautiful writing! http://www.calligraphersguild.org/envelope.html
Susan, what a great post! Yours is some of the most beautiful handwriting I’ve ever seen. I love peeking at your old journals – they give us a glimpse into who you are.
I cannot imagine doing away with cursive handwriting. I love it because everyone’s handwriting is unique & beautiful in its own way.
I have a ‘treasure box’ & in it I keep all the letters, notes, drawings, & cards from my nieces and nephews. I’ve also saved all the cards & love notes from my husband. They are among my most prized possessions!
Would you consider creating a keepsake box for your adoring fans? What a great place to store our little treasures, trinkets, letters, etc. I’m sure it would be a huge hit with all the girlfriends.
Hope everyone here has a great day!
I love boxes, would be very fun to do!
His Miss Susan! Thank you for sharing your “past” today. I too remember learning how to cursive and trying so very hard to get those gold stars for most improved handwriting. It makes me sad that schools want to do away with cursive. If the kids don’t learn it, how will they ever know how to read it?
There is nothing like getting a handwritten card or letter in the mail. Makes me feel like a little kid again. Please put my name in the drawing. I can guarantee those note cards will go out to some well-deserving family and friends who will get the same thrill I would at receiving such a personal gem. Have a beautiful day! And be sure to devil Jack for me, and pet sweet Girl Kitty.
Pam K. from Dallas
I’ve been deviling Jack every time I can trap him in my arms. Kiss kiss kiss, he runs.
I think this was one of my favorites of your blog entries. I learned cursive writing in Catholic school using the Palmer Method. Throughout the years I spent much time “daydreaming” in class practicing different variations of cursive writing in the margins of my notebooks when I should have been taking notes. I love hand-writing notes and cards. This was a very inspirational and fun blog entry.
Your blog always takes me back to a long forgotten time and place. With all the hustle and bustle in our lives, I think we have forgotten all the simple pleasures of time past…email now replaces snail mail. How sad. Im hoping in reading this, your viewers will send out a few handwritten, cursive letters to their friends to brighten up their day!!! Thanks for the great blog!!!
Dear Sue,
My very best girlfriend in the world hooked me on your art and your blog.
Your blog is a welcome and much-anticipated bright spot in my days and Willard is just icing.
Thank you so much for doing what you do. (if I could write this in cursive, I would!)
Christy in Victoria, Texas
Happy Cursive Day!
I too love cursive, especially your style which I simply cannot do. Journaling fills a place in my soul that nothing else can. Someday’s it is happy, some sad, some just there. I jot down funny things my kids say, and then when I read it years later it makes me laugh all over again.
Love the Grandma book; maybe my mom would actually create a keepsake for her family with that!
Unbelievable, what are the educators of our children thinking? I guess it will be up to the parents to teach their children so that cursive writing will not become a lost art. Future generations will be deprived of such beauty in life. There is nothing that compares to receiving a hand written letter. I never received letters from my parents or grandparents but I saved every signed card from them. My daughter had given me a tell me your story journal but I didn’t start writing in it which turned out to be a good thing, I just gave it to a friend to give to her terminally ill mother.
Priscilla in SD from CA
Oh, how exciting! I am a new GRANDMOTHER! Our Granddaughter was born 2 weeks ago and her name is Finley Kate! She is the most precious little thing and I would love for her to remember me. It is such a gift to see a child of your child. And my hope for her is that she will know all of the wonderful things in life that we have enjoyed. The great meals we have shared, the great times together and the great loves of our lives.
I hear your happiness in your words! Congratulations Judi!
What a thoroughly enjoyable post! I have re-found you after years away… I cannot believe I didn’t think to check for a blog or website from you sooner. And now that I have Susan Branch back, I am completely re-enchanted. Thank you for sharing you! (I am a mama-to-little-ones who also blogs— sharing ME via photography…Fee free to pop by!)
Happy new week!
I, like you, have been on a quest to save the art of letter writing and card sending and any other form of written correspondence. In this day and age of emails, texting and skyping {although I do love all of these conveniences} nothing makes my heart skip a beat quite like recieving a hand written letter from an old friend or a ‘just because’ card from someone special. And really,
cursive is like an old friend and I can’t imagine not using it. When I started school at 5, I was so excited to get to a higher grade so I could start learning cursive like my older siblings. It was a rite of passage for many of us and should never be lost or cast aside. Also, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your generosity and thoughtfulness in sharing a bit of your world with ‘us’. Much love, Rebecca ♥
I can’t believe that cursive would ever be gone forever – just like the 8 track tape! Someone mentioned this at work one day ~ “no one ever writes in cursive any more” they said and I had to chime in “I DO!” Everyday I write pages in my journals, in cursive. Sometimes it’s neat and sometimes not, but that’s the way I write. I have those journals as well, but mine are kept in boxes in the closet, not on shelves. I even have left instructions on how to dispose of them when I am gone. (I can’t bear to part with them now… but I sure don’t want them left for everyone to read!) What can we do to keep it alive?!
Teach!
Love your blog. Hope you have a wonderful day. Thanks for the great giveaways.
I am an art teacher in a small rural school in Kentucky and I am saddened to say that they still teach cursive writing but it is not practiced through the years. Over the years students choose to print most often; very few choose to write in cursive. As a child I loved writing lessons. It was my time to shine because like you, Susan, these were early art lessons for me. Today I keep a journal and I hadn’t been a journal keeper until my husband died at the first of January so now I write to him. I talk to him everyday through the journal. I am sure there will be a day that I look back and think, “Now why did I put that in there?” But right now it is what I need to say and maybe someday a grandchild will find it all so interesting. I know I would!! I found some of my grandmother’s (we called her Mausie) receipes that she had handwritten. I have them framed in my kitchen…love these. Your handwriting is what makes your books so super special. Well lunch is over the children will be here shortly we are making Truffula trees like in the Lorax!!! Have a great day!
I think your journal is wonderful, your kids will love it so much.
Eight years of Catholic school education was the way to get great cursive skills. The nuns spent one class period daily teaching us to write perfect cursive. My sons first grade teacher insisted children learn to write the alphabet well, in cursive, so that any one could read what was written! My daughter have beautiful cursive skills because they were taught well. I, too, would hate to see this eliminated from classrooms. Before you know it, cursive will be a form of art! By the way, I bought two of your previous recipe keepers that I am working on for my girls. The new one would be perfect for my son. Fingers crossed!
So glad, I wanted something for the boys!
Oh the days of my grandma writing us little love notes in cursive! Now my mother -in-law does the same wonderful notes to my kids!
Greetings — the sun is shining and bringing spring to Fairway, KS, as I visit my daughter, knowing the next time I see her, she’ll be a new mother! It’s so wonderful to be able to read your blog no matter where I visit! Absolutely LOVE the first two lines of your post — and if I may, I will write those lines in the books I pass on to this grandchild-to-be, giving credit to Y-O-U! Thank you for reminding us to stay inspired.
When I was growing up, my father had 5 cousins who were sisters, and they all then became sisters of the Order of St. Francis. Yes, sister sisters! We soooo looked forward to their letters and always knew when they arrived because of their beautiful handwriting — the flowing text, the fancy capital letters, the straight lined script on unlined paper! More recently in my life, when I was teaching fifth grade, my students would come to me, WANTING to perfect their cursive, not always knowing how to make a capital J or Q or W. So it saddens me to see that many want cursive to go to the wayside, when to me, it’s a second set of fingerprints, if you will. Thanks for sharing so many interesting examples of penmanship. That’s what makes your books, calendars, and stationery so interesting and enjoyable! Have a sun-filled day!
I am a 4th grade teacher in Frisco, Texas, and am trying to desperatly keep cursive writing alive. It is a struggle. Thank you for your post, always my favorite thing read.
Love that you’re trying!
I also saw the article online about not teaching cursive and couldn’t believe it! I collect old postcards – mostly from the early 1900’s. The handwriting is beautiful on these cards and a pleasure to read all of these years later.
good morning susan, good morning everyone, how are you all today?? sad that they don’t want to teach cursive writing anymore, the kids will be missing out on something so special. i hope that they continue to teach cursive writing, where will all the creative writers come from??? a girlfriend and i have been writing letters back and forth for over 20 years now, when i told her that they were now considering no longer teaching cursive writing, she was shocked. she also said she was amazed at the financial state of the postal office as she figures we have been financing them for years with all the long letters we wrote, i figure the same. well off to go feed the chickens and the rest of the birds. have a great day today. hugs……. 🙂
I wish I was as good as my mom… She has kept a diary for YEARS and I buy a nice little diary and maybe one or two entries and then nothing.
It isn’t everyone’s cup of tea!
I loved reading about your beautiful cursive writing as a child. Your father must have been so proud! I remember how I loved learning cursive. It is an art, one I hope we never lose! I am a new grandma this year. I have a beautiful 11 month old grandson who I cherish! What a wonderful book to be able to share our story with those we love. Thank you for sharing your talents with all of us!
Congratulations!
Two quick comments after reading (scanning) some of the comments….your picture of the heart drawn in the sand brought back a honeymoon photo I took on the beach in the Bahamas…..Jim and I stood beside each other and put our footprints in the sand and then circled them with seashells…..when the pictures came back (80’s) I was so surprised that our prints looked like they were 3D and after looking at yours for awhile esp. the two prints on the lower right they look the same way?? Now; journals, love note s/cards are intended for the two people involved and not for “others” to see. Over the past 10 years I had all of my love letters/cards in a special spot and when I would clean out the drawer where I kept them I started weeding out those that I never wanted anyone else to see and it was the hardest thing that I ever did….I reread them and enjoyed them and tossed them away….now, I am down to the ones that are just so sweet and I might someday gives those up too. I do have to admit there were not any scandalous (shucks) ones just private…between two hearts and not meant for anyone else to misconstrue….recipes and handwritten letters for sure keep, but private thoughts be sure while YOU are still alive have a ceremony like you talked about and send them off with your blessings is my suggestion. Susan, it might also be time to “give up” the boyfriend letters you keep in your special basket mainly because you found your PRINCE JOE??? just sayin…….hmmmm
He was my boyfriend when I was 19 and he was the wild animal trainer for the Tarzan show. I lived with his family in Mexico City for a while. He wrote me a letter telling me he was going to ask my dad how many chickens and cows he wanted in exchange for his daughter Susana. I can’t throw this little blue eggshell blue onion-sking paper away. I just can’t!
OK….calm down it is alright that you keep your special memory; chickens/cows honey I’m sorry but that made me just now laugh out loud. I have to admit it is sweet in a primative sort of way. This blog just keeps exposing more and more of your wonderful life sweet Susana. Did you look at the footprints in your photo just stare at them and watch them become 3D?? Weird isn’t it!!
Oh, onion skin paper!!! I had a treasured box of blue onionskin paper as well in my early teens…I kep it so very long because I hated to see it go! However, when my boyfriend went away to college, I started writing my letters to him on them (pre- cell phones and computers, etc!)… Now they are back in my possession because we married and I have a little cedar box that locks with our letters in them… I need to find that and go through it!… am loving these comments and memories!
I’m the proud letter writing daughter of a letter writing daughter of a letter writing daughter! I learned early on the beauty and power of handwritten correspondence. There is no better way to “tend” your loved ones. I cherish the letters my grandfather wrote to me after our family moved 1,000 miles away from him. He only had a 6th grade education, and his letters were somewhat hard to read with many a misspelled word, but they are priceless and magical to me – even now!
I know how you feel!
My cursive writing went by the wayside when I needed to take notes quickly in school. It seems I can print more quickly. Still, I bemoan the fact that they do not teach cursive in schools now. Some friends have enrolled their children in after school programs to learn this. Imagine?! Anyway, the notecards and books would be much appreciated. “Enjoying” a warm-ish, rainy Monday in Wisconsin. Thanks as usual for all the sunny pictures.
I’m inspired! I will start writing notes again (in cursive) and resume writing in a daily journal. Thank you for the inspiration.
Hello Sweet Sue…I Love That Your Grand~Ma started Her Letters with “Darling Sue”….(Goosebumps) I Recently found One of My Diaries from the Year I was 14….& Began re~Reading it…it’s Amazing…to go back in Time & read My heart & Soul on those Pages….I wrote in Cursive….& I Doodled on most Every Page….ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Hello 14….. 🙂 This Blog is Fabulous…& I Thank You….I Remember Learning Cursive in School & Secretly Knowing How I Loved it how it was So Artistic & How All My Friends Had Unique Hand~Writing…Is it Because of The Internet & The Cell Phones that they are Not Teaching Cursive anymore? I Need to Ask Taylor about this….Hmmmmmmmmmmmm? C’est La Vie Well It’s Very Exciting that You are Giving away a Signed Copy of Your New Grand!~Ma Book…(My Fingers are Crossed extra today) 🙂 wishing You… Sweet Sue & Joe & Girl~Kitty & Jack a Merry Monday! Yay! xoxo Poof! ♣♫♥
As soon as I saw your name I wondered about Taylor! But she has you! So all is well I am sure!
Dear Ms. Branch,
I hope that the administrators of schools are also fans of yours and read your blog. I absolutely agree with all you have to say about handwriting, and cursive in particular. I read an article some time ago that pointed to the fact that most schools, especially public, have ceased teaching cursive. It stated that in a few generations, cursive will become like hieroglyphics, and only a very few will be able to decipher such writings as the Declaration of Independence. I find this sad. I used to spend many hours “perfecting” my handwriting, trying to come up with something that was uniquely my own. I have four children, my oldest two (14, and 13) were never taught handwriting in school, although the oldest taught himself. My youngest two (6, and 7)are in parochial school, and luckily, they still teach cursive in second and third grade there!
So many wonderful teachers have left comments; they give me hope!
So many treasures in this post…..I laughed, cried and remembered so many notes, cards, letters, written and recieved over the years and poems and lyrics written in journals…… those sometimes scribbled, sometimes artsy thoughts on living. Words that changed the way I was feeling, words that I will cling to, words that touched the heart of me. I ♥ ” I Love Cursive Day! ”
……And reading through the comments, you can feel how connected the girlfriends are, connected by so many similiar experiences…..thank you Sue, for giving us all a chance to reflect and share…again!
Also, thanks for reminding me about “spilling your guts” ( loved the quote)….lol…….Now, I have to go make sure my journals are under lock and key in the safe….!!!
Beautiful sentiments, I too love old letter and enjoy re-reading all the letter and postcards handed down from my family’s women to me. I will be a Grandma (to #4, a girl finally) in June, would love the book!
Susan ~ This morning I read the entire contents of the Comments that were posted for this blog entry. Awesome! I agree that the fine art of Cursive is something worth trying to preserve and encourage. I will make it a point for my Grandson to start to practice how he’d like his signature to look for his drivers license and other important documents in his life. With school, homework and sports, how does a person find time for practiceing penmenship? I guess if it important to him, he will find time. My grandson goes to a private christian school, and they DO teach cursive. They start with “Bob Jones Pre Cursive” for their printing in preschool and then in 3rd grade teach cursive. It is suppose to help them bridge the printing into the cursive because the way the letters are curved it goes into cursive very easily. Go to the “BJU Press” website under Pre Cursive Font and you can see for your self. I’m told you can even download or print practice pages to teach yourself or your own children. So glad I can share this bit of good news with you. Hope the readers can find some help with their Cursive, and since this is free, why not take the opportunity to help someone learn to use cursive too.
Keep Cursive alive! ~ Debra V. from sunny southern California
Thank you Debra, good info!
I whole heartedly agree with your views on cursive writing – – it is an art form!
Thank you again for brightening my days by sharing yours – – it refreshes me and is soothing and wonderful to follow. All the best to you.
Roswell, New Mexico
Susan;
My husband and I met through the writing of hand written letters that we mailed to each other, from England to America, and back, in 1987/1988!! I still have them! We supplemented with phone calls, but no internet! Joy! We celebrate 24 years together this year, who would have thunk it! Love hand written “stuff” ..it’s a dying art. Thank you for your beautiful scribing.
What a great thing to have! Joe and I never got far enough away from each other; I don’t have a single letter from him, although I do have lots of cards.
I really do not like my handwriting at all, but I do agree for heritage sake, that anything in my mother/grandmother/great-grandmother’s writing that I have (mostly beautiful recipes!) mean the world to me. I ,therefor, have made efforts to keep all recipes hand-written in the old fashioned recipe box (well actually mine is a basket). I have run out of my favorite Susan recipe cards, however, and will be searching for more! Love the idea of the Grandmother book and SO excited to see the new recipe binder 🙂
Good for you. Your handwriting will mean lots more to others later on!
When I saw the March page in your calendar, my heart skipped a beat! I was a third grade teacher for 35 years, and teaching cursive writing was a passion of mine. Every year my students came in so excited to learn how to write like a ‘grown up’, so we started with the Palmer exercises that very day—-slant lines, loops, etc. It was such a thrill for both of us to see the progress that they made each day—starting with a lower case i and t and then writing their first word–it. Towards the end of my career, the handwriting lessons among newer teachers became fewer and fewer and so much was done on the computer. It was sad for me to see this transition going on but knew that others viewed it as ‘progress’ and learning to write in cursive a waste of time. I, on the other hand, knew that my students were learning not only how to write in cursive, but learning how to be patient and apply themselves, work slowly and over time see the results that only time and steady work can produce—it’s not about instant gratification—but taking pride in a job well done and knowing you did it yourself. No machines needed! Our world may be going too fast to take the time to write but some of us know what they are missing out on in life—more is not always, if ever, better! Thank you for giving me a forum, Susan, and understanding my heart and soul.
My mother grew up in England in a time when they taught Copperplate Cursive – she is now 90 and her handwriting still retains the flavor of Copperplate Cursive and makes her notes and letters special. The cursive we learned here in the 50’s is more individual in style, but the letters in words still flow. A sad day when our schools will no longer teach cursive.
Oh Great and powerful (and beautiful too, I’m sure) Vanna pick me!
Dear Susan;
No cursive? What a ridiculous idea!! How will our children sign their names?! Not to mention, it’s actually easier for some to write cursive than print!! My son is learnig cursive this year, but the worksheets and practice seem to come in “fits and starts”. I guess I should just be glad he is learning it at all… It’s bad enough they’ve taken so much of the fun out of school (PE once a week, practically no holiday parties – just a winter break & end of the year – no home made food at the parties – even bake sale items must be store-bought!) It’s all so sad to me. My youngest son’s school experience is so different than mine, or even my older son’s. Sorry, kind of got a little carried away there. But, I’m with you. Keep cursive in our schools, and send actual letters in the mail and go ahead and use your actual handwriting in scrapbooks (at least some of the time!) Who knew that a reality check could actually be pleasant? We can just add it to your list of attributes that make you so uniquely Susan! 🙂
Sadly, I no longer write anything down. Except recipes. Certainly nothing soulful. Seldom has my written word NOT been found by the wrong person and used against me. My 5th grade Cursive teacher Miss Fox was fond of slapping the back of my head for being left handed. While I’m sure she is dead, I am not so sure that any of her offspring won’t find this blog and sue me. So much more kind was the 1st grade teacher who would gently remove the pencil from my left hand and place it in my right; until my Father just as kindly asked her to leave me alone. Wish I had told him about Miss Fox.
Boo on Miss Fox! I hope none of her relatives read this! LOL
I too love paper and journals & writing letters – didn’t realize how much I miss them until I read your blog – I broke my wrist in February and have a couple more weeks in the cast. Can’t wait to start writing again. I’m afraid it will be a lost art.
I agree that cursive is a fine art! My son is 16 and has the worst handwriting I have ever seen (he’s a lefty also). His printing is not much better. Now my daughter is very neat. Her handwriting is beautiful! I have saved all of her journals from school so she can look back on them when she is older. I have saved my sons also but I’m afraid as the years go on he will not even be able to make out what he wrote. I did go through and “try” to translate some of it because the stories he wrote were funny.
I hope that the schools do not do away with cursive. Everyone needs to know how to write legibly.
Just love your blog! Each day look forward to seeing what you have come up with to write about. It warms my heart and feels SO very personal. Thank you for all your topics and how they seem to be designed to touch all of us in a very special way. Have been a fan and close follower for years and am ecstatic now that I can learn more about you, Joe and the kitties (but not in a weird stalker way!!) I love to journal and have thought about doing it on the computer, but then it seems so STERILE and just cannot go there… just love the process of putting the pen to paper!! Thank you again for all that you do to bring your community together. Spring time coming in the Rockies!!!! Love, Pam
Dear Susan,
Thanks for the fun and friendly things you post for all of us to enjoy. I would love to enter your drawing for your pretty cards and books. This past Christmas my wish list was, anything from Susan Branch. I got some lovely things from my family. However one can never have too many pretty things to share and enjoy. Your lovely artwork and lettering is always a joy. Thanks so much.
Take care,
Crystal
Oh, I am guilty of not writing letters by hand. The computer is so much quicker and easier, plus it has spell check. However, I do use a font that resembles handwriting. If I would win, I promise to write the notes by hand.
We only have one rule around here, and that is, you get to do anything you want! 🙂
Hi Sue,
It’s so strange to me also that cursive should ever be considered something “out of date” or better discarded. In this age of everything text, kids hardly put a pen to paper, much less handwrite! In my office, I am the one who ALWAYS addresses the holiday cards, because I have an old fashioned boss who likes that touch and I was trained by nuns for 13 years (although I never got an A! – my slant was never perfect enough) My daughter already loves it that I have recipes hand written by her great grandmothers, but she herself only prints and is very good using the cell phone for all communication. I still write handwritten notes for ALL gifts – and many times just because. I guess I keep hoping that it will encourage others, but I agree that it is more a lost art all the time! I’m with you, “I love cursive!”
Your friend, Sue in California
Hi Susan. This is yet another example of how all of the ‘old’ things are going by the wayside. Cursive writing is a part of who we are as a people. I’ve always loved cursive handwriting and always will. As my granddaughters are very young still, when they get to the age that they should be learning cursive handwriting, and it is not taught in school, they will learn it from me. I will make it my personal mission to see that they have the opportunity to see the beauty in cursive handwriting.
Thanks for all of your beautiful writings.
Stephanie
Susan….interesting blog about cursive. I also won awards for my handwriting when I attended Our Lady of Sorrows School in Long Island, many years ago. Every Monday we had a teacher come and instruct us in the Palmer Method of handwriting. I loved it and became quite proficient. The class lasted an hour or so and we practiced so hard writing the alphabet. Of course after that I was always asked to write the family Christmas cards and all other correspondance because of my beautiful handwrining. I can always spot a former Catholic School person just from their writing. Hate to see penmanship go!
Happy Monday!! I have always been fascinated by people’s cursive handwriting – it’s the first thing I notice about something handwritten — there is such as art to it, as you know. I have often kept articles of handwritten pieces, not because of the content, but, because of the beautiful penmanship!
My next thought……cleaning out a LOT of things belonging to my father, who passed away in September, yesterday I found several old issues of Country Living Magazine. You came to my mind, as I laid them aside, thinking I would look for your pages inside. I just couldn’t remember what years you contributed to them.
I would so love to have your books and cards. Going through so much of my father and grandmother’s things reminds me of the importance of leaving the “right” things to my children and Grandchildren. Thanks for helping with that!
Have a blessed day! Angie