I have a new favorite person and author. Helen Ellis, her article on the last page of this edition of Garden and Gun, made me swoon. I'm sending the photo of it far and wide and telling everyone to read it.
Go get the magazine, you don't get the magazine you say? Let me know, next gift giving opportunity- guess what! And researching for this blog post, I found more I love about Helen Ellis. An article in, you guessed it G&G 2024....about Thank you Notes!
This month's article is about illegible hand writing, yes yours truly, so of course I relate to the author. The title is-Illegible Me, Horrific pensmanship won't stop a handwriting fiend! G& G april May 2026 p. 192 Ellis (forgive if order is wrong).
I come by my poor handwriting honestly. My father's wasn't great. I interned in an adjacent office one summer, people would seek me out to decipher his scribble. There have been times I've felt badly about this. There are times I type my letters and print to be understood. One time I pushed back, you can't read my writing then I won't send the letter. A hand written thank you letter should be good enough..but of course it isn't. I do want you to know how I feel, how grateful I am and how I'll use the item you've bestowed to me/the organization for which I care.
Even what is deemed the most beautiful handwriting now can be hard to read/understand. We're all so use to text and printing and these future generations can't even read cursive much less write it. My mother's writing can even be hard, but I know how to read it. I was raised reading it and at times trying to copy it. My children had to ask Nana to print when she sent mail to camp, they didn't read cursive. Sigh.
The kindest email came to me today. MY HWTY (hand written thank you) was called out as making a difference and greatly appreciated! Ahhh, yay!
I'm big fan of the "ps" on printed/typed, somewhat form letters, solicitations and acknowledgements. I don't get to do that as much any more. I love to send a postcard, have slowed down on those...not sure why.
Anyway- Dear Ms. Ellis, I will be reading more of your writing. I'm adding you to summer reading, because a beach trip is in my future!
And guess what my texting isn't great either..oh well at least I can bring a smile- see the positive on Newark-Granville Road and keep writing and reading! Thanks for reading this today.
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