Cleaning out the house has led to a few moments of sentimentality. But there have been far more guffaws.
Yesterday I found this gem. I do not know why it is in a frame. But I know why it is has been so honored. Someone knew irony writ large.
Some readers have been kind enough to compliment my writing style. And everyone appreciates compliments. Even all of those American teenage girls who think they sound like Beyonce instead of Bea Arthur.
But the framed prose was not about writing -- even though the first line would lead you to believe it was. It was about penmanship.
Even though I had been writing stories for the previous three years, I was never very good at penmanship.
Like most Americans, I was introduced to the arcane ways of cursive in the third grade. Whether it was my hand, eye, or mind control, I was never able to copy the rather fascist white strokes on green cardboard that topped our chalk board.
After three months of forcing the right and left sides of my brain to communicate with each other, my technique had not improved. This example is from early 1958. And Miss Romig was obviously not impressed.
Even though I told a compelling tale -- in Hemingwayesque prose -- about Columbus, discovery, and Indians, the best I could get was a 4-. If Miss Romig had been Dr. Romig, my penmanship would have been in intensive care. On death watch.
Of course, she was correct. As penmanship, the piece is a disaster. On the other hand, it is an interesting piece of calligraphy.
It may even be a nascent Saichō. That may explain the frame.
There is a resemblance, isn't there?
In the same way that Russel Crowe's singing voice is similar to Colm Wilkinson's.
Interesting can of worms, this cursive handwriting skill is. As a teacher, I believe it should be demonstrated rather than required. Some kids just never pick it up, even as adults and whether it is actually a 21st century skill is debatable. Yet, it is faster than manuscript writing and personally, I enjoy the creative expression it allows for. BTW I would have given you a 7+ LOL, Lapis
ReplyDeleteMy penmanship still looks like that, and it wasn't from not practicing. The drill in Catholic grammar school was writing the same sentence a hundred times, over and over, until it got better--it didn't work.
ReplyDeleteI like to think I have the hand of an artist. It sounds much better than merely being sloppy.
ReplyDeleteI have paid a price for my lack of skill in this area. My note-taking during trial would occasionally lead to a crashed climax because I could not read the notes I had just written. In the office, my secretary would often be the only person who could read my handwritten instructions. And that included translating me to me.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your moving/decluttering chore. I had to do a similar chore when my dad passed away a few years ago. It was hard at first but got easier. Everything went in one of the following piles: keep/shred/church rummage sale/recycle/trash.
ReplyDeleteGood luck :)
I have similar piles. Plus a shredding pile for my legal files. I should be ready by 2 February.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that tidbit. I feel much better already about "notes" to myself.
ReplyDeleteMany elementary schools no longer include cursive writing in their curriculum.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I cannot read my own writing - you can read yours from 50+ years back - impressive ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt was better when I was 8.
ReplyDeleteThat creates some mixed feelings. My note-writing speed was far faster in cursive than it was with printing.
ReplyDeleteThat's true. Usually, it's the kids themselves that ask to be taught!
ReplyDeleteI would argue that speed is irrelevant if you can't read what you have written. Especially in the heat of a legal battle.
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