Writing and reading are my preoccupations this week. I just posted — over on my Reading Blog — about thefirst two novels I read this year, and that post featured not only my reading, but also my handwriting (not to mention, the writing of the post itself).
And yesterday, I posted on Instagram some photos of a letter my granddaughter, Seven, had sent me, and of the card I’d written and addressed to her.
using a card and a customized stamp designed by a good friend. My Instagram post drew so many great comments that I thought some of you might be interested in this topic of handwritten correspondence and its pleasures, so I’m duplicating the photos here.
And I’m adding a few more, because, as so often happens, I carried that stamped, addressed red envelope around in my purse yesterday. Together, we probably passed four or five mailboxes, but did I remember to stop and drop the card through the flap so that it could begin its journey across town? I did not, sadly. . .
But lemons and lemonade or clouds and silver lining and all that. . . .
Forgetting gave me time to remember. . . .
that I had sealing wax and stamps, which Paul bought me here in Vancouver the Christmas after that Venice shop had been closing for a family emergency just as we arrived to choose from what the young Commessa had demonstrated the day before. . . but we’d gone for lunch and to take some time to think about which wax and which seals I wanted. . . . So the wax and seals aren’t from Venezia but they’re souvenirs of it, nonetheless. (you can see aphoto of the shop in this post, written when I still thought I could get back for the wax and seals
And I keep them in a box that does come from Italy, from Florence/Firenzerather than Venice, but still . . . It still carries the delicious fragrance of Sapone al Melograno . . Pomegranate Soap
That fountain pen (which you’ll see, if you visit my Reading Blog, can be temperamental) was bought in Turin/Torino, when we serendipitously noticed a pen shop on the way to the train station — just in time to interrupt a discussion that was heading toward argument, and ultimately destined for Big Fight Territory. Instead, we stepped inside a shop that still held bits of the 1950s stuck in its darker corners. . . and where I had a charming conversation with the proprietor, a woman nudging her 70s, I suspect (I was early 60s then, and imagining that next decade much further away, much older, so I could be wrong). She had a very few words of English, pronounced intriguingly, amplified by gesture. . . and I had a few of Italian. Surprising how much can be done with good will. . . .
So now I seem to have introduced forgetting and remembering to a post that began with themes of reading and writing. Which seems fair, really, considering that reading and writing attempt to be some kind of guarantee against the loss of memory. . . .
At any rate, I remembered my sealing wax this morning and decided that forgetting to mail that envelope yesterday was practically deliberate. I had to hurry, though, because I had delegated Pater to mail the letter on his way to a meeting. So I was very hasty with the dripping wax (and, honestly, I haven’t much practice with it). . . . I don’t think the Seven will mind — and if she’s very thoughtful and is able to peel the stamped wax letter away without breaking it, she may realize that her brother’s name also begins with F . . .
Letters and letters. . . the correspondences . . . the stories continuing. . . .
I’d love them to continue in the comments below, anything you’d like to say about my reading and writing or yours. . . . (although the book comments might be more at home over at my reading blog
Do you Snail Mail? or hand-write regularly in a journal? Or do you always mean to, but not quite manage it, despite the stationery you can’t resist buying? Did my post trigger memories of ways you remember past travels, other places, through small mementoes?
I love the wax-y dribbles. I thought they were deliberate … so artistic. Like sparkles. She'll love it.
Thinking of that letter carried around in your purse reminds me of a very good friend from elementary school who was notorious at writing letters and never sending them. Once she carried one around for months and then delivered it in person, quite crumpled, when she came up from Fredericton to visit me in Ottawa. We still laugh about that.
I posted a letter on FB past year sent to me by my "niece" many years ago. She is in fact the step-daughter of my older brother. And when they moved as a family from New Brunswick to Newfoundland in the late sixties we used to write to one another. I was twelve and she was eight. The letter I still have is written a bit crooked across unlined paper, growing increasingly so, until the printing is almost vertical across the page. So charming, spelling errors and all. When I found it and posted it on FB she and her younger sisters, my brother's daughters, thought it was hilarious.
Now I'm off to pedal my exercise bike and keep myself company by reading your book blog. xo
This post reminds me that I have a seal and a stick of wax just like yours, but not in such a pretty box, given to me by one of my daughters a few years ago. I like to write in my journal, by hand, but I don't sit down to do it as often as I would like, or as often as I once did. Writing by hand has a way of settling my mind.
I have a 9 who checks the snail mail every single day. I occasionally pop something into the mail for her. I'm off to search out a card and my wax and seal! Thanks for the nudge.
I have always been an avid writer of letters, although I often typed them because my handwriting used to be a matter of complaints. (I blame it on my left-handedness.) While working in an international research project including partners in Germany and Central America in the 1980s, I hated snail mail because it was so slow (and speaking to people on the phone was so complicated). In my private correspondence with friends in Latin America we used to write numbers on our letters in order to find out if any got lost. Quite a few of them did. So when e-mail became a realistic option, I embraced it with all my heart.
I keep a hand written journal, although not very regularly. When I write down the first notes and ideas for a lecture, an article, a letter etc., it is always by hand, with a pencil. And I love writing postcards, mostly when I am travelling.
I love paper and pens and sealing wax. You've inspired me to get back to writing letters.
Like Sue Burpee I thought the wax splots were carefully placed in an artistic scattering! Your seven must have been enthralled. And oh the all-pervading appeal of the unicorn! Sadly I write very few letters nowadays. We have Norwegian friends who always write rather than email, and it's such a joy to see their ornate Norwegian script. Likewise one of our former French au pairs always handwrites letters to us, and there it's the classic instantly recognisable French hand. It's such a pity that a national style of handwriting is no longer taught. I couldn't swear that cursive writing is still taught in Scotland. What I learned was a much simpler style than my parents' generation – they had a beautifully elegant hand. I do have my great grandfather's signet ring used for sealing the wax on letters – a precious heirloom.
I write a daily journal – a garden and weather journal rather than an introspective one. I get a lot of pleasure from looking back through the seasons and years, and it's very practical too. Virginia Woolf wrote about the weather and her garden, so I'm in good company! When I was at university of course email hadn't been invented. My children are incredulous that when working in France during my degree I could arrange to meet a friend from another part of the country on a certain station platform at a certain time and we would both be there. I explained to them that there were things called letters…and that we planned weeks in advance.
I think I've identified your mystery plant from your previous post – see comments.
Years ago, I got my mom to convert to email, starting with WebTV–a box on the TV, with a keyboard wired to it, no computer necessary. She eventually upgraded to a Mac, but my dad never joined in. He would wave at the screen on Skype, but he preferred to write letters by hand. I still have them. And he would write to my kid, for whom a Letter in the Mail was far more exciting than any toy.
The first time I moved away, letters were so precious. Not only was it pre-Internet, but to talk on the phone I had to travel all day to the capital and go to a fancy hotel, where a human operator dialed the number and connected me in a plush phone booth. That happened twice in two years. It cost a fortune, too. Instead, I would walk an hour each way to the post office to collect the mail, hoping for a blue airgram, with tiny writing going all the way to the edge of the precious paper. It was expensive to send them, too, but not anywhere near a phone call. I still have a lot of those airgrams. I wouldn't have sealed them with wax because weight!
I had the same idea as Sue re the drops of wax, that they were artistic additions. It must be the height of excitement at Seven's house after mail delivery. Oh to be a fly on the wall!
What a splendid way to keep in touch and introduce a girl to the pleasures of papers, pens, and all the accessories. I still have a stash of cards and paper, but use them now mostly for letters of condolence, which IMO are not to sent by e-mail.
I love continuing traditions so I too have sealing wax and my own seal. However, I've found that the wax penetrates the envelope and marks the writing paper within. Do you have the same problem?
Letter and note writing continues in my household – I have designed and printed my own cards to use – but it appears that hand written correspondence is declining. The humble Christmas cards are being sidelined for e-cards or an email summarising a person's highlights from the past 12 months. I will definitely follow your lead of hand writing to my grandchildren once they can read.
Sue B: Those old letters, especially from children, are priceless. I'm sure your niece was tickled that you'd saved it all those years.
Lorrie: I find the same thing — writing by hand does settle the mind. Cute, the image of that Nine checking the mailbox daily. . .
Hi Frances … thanks for continuing this topic here! I too thought the droplets of wax were intentional and can imagine Seven’s excitement as your beautiful card pops through her letterbox or is maybe collected from a box … It’s so lovely that you write to each other via snail mail. Emails have there place … I think of them as practical and efficient! �� but there’s something special about handwritten letters and cards … When my brother died my SIL gave me a bundle of letters he’d found at my mums when she died. Letters from me to her and from my children when they were small , home made cards, postcards etc … so precious. You’ve reminded me that I need to find a pretty box to keep them in!
Having problems leaving comments again, so here goes!
Rosie
I still keep a hand-written journal–utilizing my Palmer method of writing (showing my age ;). I need that connection to paper. Like ToF, I remember the blue avion stationery (still have a few not written upon) from living overseas. When two of my sons were away on military duty, they regularly received handwritten letters from me and responded in kind. Rarely write full letters these days though I still have stationery to do so. Much more likely to send blank cards or postcards-but handwritten!
Haven't sent any letters to my grandchildren yet (most too young to read yet), but I do write, in cursive, a paragraph in the front of each book I give them–either telling them what the book means to me or what I hope it might mean to them in the future. I had been sending hand-written notes to my nieces over the years (they are now in mid to late teens) only to recently discover that their schools never taught cursive writing. Guess their parents translated them. Sigh.
My handwriting is shocking which I put down to many years of typing. And I don't write letters much any longer though I am keen on sending and receiving cards. I noted this year that we received fewer Christmas cards and they seem to be going out of style, a great pity. Always send plenty and will continue so to do. Somewhere in this house there is some sealing wax and I may look for it. Only this morning I received a beautiful card from a friend for no particular reason at all. The best of reasons, I would say.
Eleonore: You're right that, depending where it was sent or what the destination,sending a letter by mail in the past was not always efficient or even secure, and it's dangerous to romanticize. But the letters that we do still have from those days have something precious about them nonetheless, don't they. . . I remember those blue Aerograms; we received them regularly from my Grandma and aunts in England, and when I went to visit for a few weeks, at 14, I tried sending one home every day. My parents saved them and gave them to me years ago and they're in my stash of old letters. Amusing (and sometimes moving) to look through.
Jen L: It's fun to do and such a delight to receive.
Linda B: Many interesting points in your comment — and thank you so for identifying the Chimomanthus praecox. I think a weather/garden journal, handwritten, would be very satisfying to write now, and to look back on for comparisons later. . . I'm not familiar with as many different national hands as you speak of, but I do remember a characteristic writing that came on the blue Aerograms we got from the English rellies. . . as for how we communicated in the old days, I have a couple of travel mishaps where a cellphone would have come in very handy. . . . 😉
TofF: I can imagine how precious those letters would have been. We only moved 1500 kilometres, still within our province, and we could call from home, long distance. But it wasn't cheap, so we rationed those calls, and letters were a mainstay. . . Hard to imagine walking an hour to pick up the post. Such luxury you live in now! 😉
I have one friend who I write to – we both live in Sydney, and see each other regularly, but there is something about the discipline of staying on track, fully expanding a thought, when one is writing rather than chatting. I write with a fountain pen; he types on a reconditioned manual typewriter. It is always such a delight to receive a letter. I used to have a seal and wax – I might have to think about resuming that lovely habit too …
I also have kept a journal since I was 14, but I write much less in it these days. I do, however, go into a panic if I don't have a notebook and pen with me at all times. When I did a 10-day silent meditation, it was not being allowed to read or write that was the hardest thing.
I am sitting here trying to get my old fountain pens to work, they are not cooperating… I agree with Sue B, the drippy bits of wax are quite artistic! Such a nice touch for your little one. I still have cards from my grandmother from the 1970's.
I've loved using a wax seal since college days and also my Chinese chop which, of course, was made specifically for me. Unfortunately, and strangely, they were both stolen in a house break-in about eight or nine years ago. So I no longer have the seal or the chop with its special red ink in a beautiful tiny blue and white porcelain container. A friend more recently gave me a new seal and sealing wax, so I am grateful for that. I must look for that shop in Venice next time (if I go back). Do you recall the name?
slf
Completely charmed by Tiffany's tale of writing regularly to a friend, although she sees her often.What a deep bond they must have by understanding the other's thoughts from 2 methods of communicating.
If a unicorn goes to the trouble of making beautiful writing paper and a 7 year old makes the effort to carefully compose and write their thoughts and emotions, I would do the same as you- answer swiftly and adorn the envelope with wax and seal. As many have written here that they have done, she will save and one day treasure having your handwriting and thoughts on paper.
All through my teens, I had a seal and wax to use regularly. That one lost in a move. A few birthdays ago, I asked my sweetheart for a seal with my initial and wax which I use with each greeting card and invitation that I send. Then a friend gave a peace sign seal for a different recent birthday. Those little touches give me pleasure; hopefully does the same for the receiver.
A. in London
Oh, I just realized my mistake. Your shop was in Turin, not Venice.
slf
I must admit, I write letters very infrequently. We still enjoy sending and receiving Christmas cards every year. Other than the occasional card to long distance friends, most of my communication is via email. Your letter writing is inspirational.
On a related note, if you are still having issues with your pen, or need some different colour ink cartridges, or just want to browse an interesting, small, independent shop I recommend:
The Vancouver Pen Shop – 512 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia. (604) 681-1612
I haven’t been there in awhile so you might want to give them a call to check they haven’t moved……
Suz from Vancouver
Duchesse: I'm absolutely in agreement about condolences sent by email. Better than not at all, I suppose, but loss of a loved one calls for more gravitas. (I'm similarly weary of the interminable birthday greetings offered on FB although I've certainly been guilty of extending some (many?) that way. . . .
Elizabeth of Eiffel: Lovely to see you hear again and to see that you've posted on your blog after a long absence. I haven't noticed the wax penetrating the envelope, but so far I've only used it on rather substantial envelopes (and, to be honest, since they're outgoing, I might not know that's the case ;-). . . .I should confess right now that my love for old-fashioned letter-writing and card-sending has not extended to Christmas cards for decades. Casualties of life's choices during the busy years. . .
Rosie: Your comment made it through the net! Yay! What a treasure your SIL returned to you. Precious to think of the correspondence itself, but also that your mother, and then your brother, saved them. . .
Mary: I bet your handwriting is lovely — and your grandchildren will treasure those inscriptions. I do the same, and any time I've forgotten, they've pointed it out and asked me to write something. When our oldest grandson wasn't yet Three, he was already insisting that the inscription be read as part of the book. And they're all interested in the books which were inscribed to their parent on a Fourth Birthday or for Christmas '82. . . .
Annie: Oh, that's the best of reasons, absolutely! Glad to know some of you are keeping the Christmas card tradition alive — I couldn't manage it during my years when I'd be marking final papers and invigilating exams right up until the 22nd. The gift-shopping, tree-decorating, and turkey-cooking were as much as I can handle. I could almost get with the French tradition of sending New Year wishes early in the New Year . . .
Tiffany: I love this idea of writing even though you see each other in person regularly. As you say, it's a way to follow through on your own thought as you communicate it. So interesting to think about how various technologies influence our thinking process.
Hard for me to envision ten days without reading or writing — did you ever try a day or two of similar withdrawal on your own after that? And with the ten days, did you notice benefits?
Smithposts: Do your fountain pens use a cartridge or do you refill them? If the latter, might be worth trying to pump some clear water through them a few times just to flush out the works. If you have a good pen store nearby, they might be able/willing to help. . . .You've reminded me that I might have a card or letter from my grandmother in a file somewhere. I think I'll have to look for that now. 😉
SLF: What a hearbreaking loss that would have been! The shop in Venice was called Scriba; I bought my fountain pen in Turin.
A in London: So glad your lost seal was replaced and then the new one complemented with a peaceful addition. . . I have two seals, and I hope (but won't promise 😉 to restrain my collector tendencies and stick to that number
Suz: It's still there! I love the Vancouver Pen Shop, although I have to be very careful with my resolve in that store. Do you remember when that block also had the Umbrella Shop, Ward's Music, Sikora's Classical Records? Hope the Pen Shop holds on. . . .
Your post inspired me to add a wax seal to the card orders I sent out today. This is no surprise to you that I'm on a personal mission to keep letter writing ( or at least card sending ) alive . What a lovely discussion. And nice to hear about the Pen Shop , I will definitely take a look.
When I go to the trouble of making the envelope fun and playful , I always imagine the postal workers appreciating the attempt at creativity.
As far as illegible handwriting, I do wish people would not give up. Even when your writing seems less thant perfect, it's still your own unique mark making. All the science says it's good for our brain too.
I've kept the hand written letters my husband and I exchanged for the 6 weeks we were apart while we were dating. I remember them being laborious to write , and took an eternity to arrive, but they are treasures to me now.
For me it's all about the pen. If you find the right nib, and the write ink, it makes all the difference in the world.