Handwriting

The other day I hand wrote a thank you note to a dear friend. I can't remember the last time I actually wrote something in longhand. It was not easy. I have gotten so used to typing that I just let my fingers do the talking. My letters were scribbly, the lines crooked. I used to get A's for handwriting as a kid.

First grade was printing, but second grade was cursive. I so looked forward to that lesson. Each day we worked on a new capital letter with the corresponding lower case. S's were easy. G's a bit harder. Q made no sense. We used our lined tablets as we wrote over and over again. How to connect letters, how to make the slant just right. Even as a kid, I had a good sense of design, so I know how the letters should line up. The nuns posted the "best" papers on the bulletin board as an example of "good penmanship"

Looking back, it makes me a little sad. Handwriting is so individual and really shows the personality. Right there...tight little letters....tight little people. Big strokes...extrovers. Lisa Twohy was in my class. She was so unique. Even then her persona screamed artist. The only thing that made her look "normal" was the uniforms we had to wear. She had the most beautiful flowing handwriting of anyone I've ever seen. She got a F in penmanship. I have never forgotten that. I was devastaded for her.

I never knew what happened to Lisa. I hope she's an artist. I hope she never changed her handwriting. I hope.