Among Friends

[GenXmuse]

No, it's always been messy. 

[We rescue cats]

I have rheumatoid arthritis and it has been particularly unkind to my hands and fingers, my handwriting was very distinctive and clear but sadly that is no longer the case, there are times that my writing is barely legible even to me.

[jubilant]

My handwriting is not at all what it used to be. I'm considering printing my notes and letters.

This post reminded me of my dear mother. We lost her just a little over a year ago.  She had the most beautiful handwriting all her life....even up until the year she died at 91 yrs.old. People often commented about it.

[LdyBugz]

My handwriting used to be very nice and I would often get compliments about it.  Nowadays, it doesn't look so great!  I most definitely have seen a change with it over the past several years.  There have been a few times when I sign a birthday or Christmas card and end up tossing it and start with a new card because my writing looked really wonky!  🤨

[RedTop]

I'm another person who loves to write, sends numerous cards and letters, and is obsessed with nice ink pens, personalized note cards and stationary.

 At nearly 68 my handwriting is still easy to read and my friends say they look forward to, and enjoy reading my cards and letters.  Last month I sent a birthday card to my best friends grandson, and it was the only card he stood up and read out loud because it was the only one he said he could read.  

I am beginning to notice how handwriting changes with family and friends who have health issues.  My friend who survived a brain bleed writes incredibly small with many mistakes; I almost need a magnifying glass to read her notes.  Friends with arthritis have trouble holding a pen, so their writing is larger, slanted differently and is what I call "sprawled" over the card.  The family and friends who are showing various degrees of mental aging; first signs to more advanced levels are the most heartbreaking.  

I am very concerned about one friend, as I've compared her handwriting for the last 5 years and seen a tremendous and frightening decline.  I am actually waiting to hear she  is in an advanced stage of dementia.  My mother who has late stage vascular dementia cannot write at all; if you give her pen and paper she just looks at in but doesn't know what to do with it.  I barely recognized her handwriting on the last birthday card 3 years ago.  

[ScarletDove]

My handwriting (cursive) has never changed, I grew up before computers and my handwriting was awful.  I learned to type on a manual, learned shorthand in high school and college.  My brain worked faster than I could write, so the typewriter was my go-to-helper.  My father as an architect always hand-printed beautiful specs and documentation, learned good print skills from him. Years later when computers introduced, I fell in love with the technology--using a keyboard allowed me to get my thoughts written fast. I worked as an Editorial Assistant for scientific journal submissions and loved english grammar. Spent the majority of my working years in Medical Management which required writing skill. Still to this day I use the computer for writing material or hand print; only write my signature.

[Sweetbay magnolia]

Mu cursive has always been a hybrid.  The "s" was a quick change to something that didn't resemble a goose.  The "g", also.

My handwriting is not bad and I think it's legible (to those who can still read cursive) but it does get harder to write as the hands get older.

I never did cross my printed "J".  The cursive "Q" that I learned?  Silly.  We spent hours looping circles on lines, backwards and forwards, to achieve that standard.

[feline groovy]

Been writing in all caps since I've had carpal tunnel.

Easier for people to read.

[AngelPuppy1]

My handwriting has gotten not so nice with age.  However, I still do it.  For me it has nothing to do with texts, e-mails.  As the old sayings go --- use it or lose it ---- or ----- practice makes perfect!  I go between printing and cursive.  My printing is definitely better at this stage.  I believe there is nothing like a handwritten note, card or letter if it is possible to do so.  I think if children are not taught cursive in school --- this is not a positive thing - at all!  

I know times change but some things should still remain a constant.  I remember back in grade school when we were being taught to write properly.  We were graded on it and we felt such pride as we got better at it.  

[AngelPuppy1]

@RedTop 

I think that's wonderful that you still send cards and notes, etc.!  I still love to send pretty cards, notes and letters and love looking for pens with different colored inks and stickers, etc.!  My writing is not as good but I keep at it.  I know what you mean about people you know and their writing starting to get not so good.  My Mother had such beautiful writing.  As she got of an advanced age and had many health issues -- strokes, macular, etc., she could hardly see, her hands shook, but she still tried to write a little bit, but her writing was very wobbly and went all over.  It was heartbreaking.  I am very sorry about your mother and your friend and I hope only the best for them!!!!