The Art of the Handwritten Note

Je souhaite à mes amis Francophones et Francophiles 

un joyeux 1er mai! Je vous envoie un brin de muguet virtuel!

Speaking of virtual cards verses the handwritten: 

The book, The Art of the Handwritten Note: A Guide to Reclaiming Civilized Communication begins with: 

"When I mention the handwritten note to any group of otherwise optimistic and intelligent people, I almost always hear someone say, 'It's a dying art.' Wrong! It's not dying, it's healthier than ever. But it certainly is an art, because it brings out the best in both the person who creates it and the person who looks at it."

I am blessed to participate in this art. I sometimes lapse in keeping up my end, even though I so love creating, sending & receiving handmade notes, cards & letters.  I also resort to typing sometimes because of easy editing, spell check & dictionaries, especially when writing in French. I do understand why computers have pushed out writing by hand.

But what's this about penmanship no longer being offered in public schools?? Perhaps someone can explain this evolution to me...We're not all talented for calligraphy, but aren't there times when we still need to write by hand? Perhaps a former generation bemoaned the day when inkwells were taken out of the schools, & I am just an old fashioned member of my generation.

For me, those letters for copying that were posted above the chalkboard in grade school where magical. I grew up seeing my grandmother's handwriting, she being two generations before me & European, & I loved it. Below is a page from one of my grandmother's journals. She was Polish, but it is a poem by French poet Rimbaud. (THAT is a WHOLE other story.)

My cursive writing has degenerated these days & I've been re-inspired by a gorgeous handwritten note from a penpal  (Merci, mon amie!)  The Art of the Handwritten Note is also reminding me that handwriting is not only a means to an end for me, it's pleasant in its own right. Or should I say, "In it's own write."