The written word

I love to write. I love the hand-written word. Whenever I have the opportunity to write to someone I really enjoy sending a message in my own hand-writing. It is so personal to send and to receive a hand-written note or letter.
I used to love to write as a child, too. Nothing special, really. Just doodling and writing words that I thought meant something to me. I was told by my teachers that I had "lovely penmanship" and always thought that was pretty cool. Even if my marks were less than perfect in a subject I always got a remark on my report card saying "but she has very good penmanship."  That got me out of trouble sometimes because it made my parents laugh.

My mother loved to write letters. When I lived in Calgary, Alberta for 4 years and my first child was born there it was hard to be away from home. I missed family and especially my friend in Toronto. I looked forward to my mom's calls every Friday just to check on things and see how my week had gone. But what I really looked forward to was her little notes and cards and letters that would come in the mail. They were always beautifully hand-written and sealed in an envelope with a pretty sticker. I will always treasure these notes from Mom.

I think we are losing the art of hand-writing and it is too bad. It is so easy and fast to just type or text or email now and even greetings are now done by the computer. Remember how it used to be so exciting to get a card or letter in the mailbox?

That is going by the wayside now and that's too bad. It's something that is just fading away.

When I had the opportunity to put together a cookbook for my kids this Christmas with their grandmother's recipes and some of my own favorite ones, I decided to write them all out in my own handwriting.

It would have been less time-consuming to type them and easier on the hands but I didn't want to do that. I have my mother's recipes written in her own handwriting and they are what gave me the idea to do this in the first place. The personal touch from one generation to the next. I could picture my mom sitting at her table with her tea and writing out this recipe that I had asked for and being very happy to do it. She always wrote at the bottom of the recipe.."Enjoy!" and I knew she really meant that.
So, I pass on this little tradition of writing when I can and not using the computer even if it is easier and faster.

Maybe my kids will think of me sitting at the island with a cat or two on my lap and my cup of chamomile tea and they will know that I really enjoyed writing out these recipes for them because I know that they loved these meals and will enjoy serving them to their children. Maybe.

There is only one thing that could be considered a problem when you love the 'hand-written word'. You may tend to keep every letter, card note, etc that was ever given or sent to you because they are special and you can't throw them out. But isn't that what beautiful hat boxes, owned by a woman who never wears hats,  are good for? I would say so.


For those that asked, Ginny is doing ok. She is eating well, drinking well, using her box and purring  continuously. My vet is very surprised she is doing this well after the results of her blood test so we just carry on and enjoy the time we have with her. She's on my lap and says "Howdy"

Hugs, Deb