This past summer, I had the opportunity to look through a couple school notebooks that belonged to some of my extended family. They were written by a French student named Hortense, who was probably in her early teens when she wrote these about 70-75 years ago. Unfortunately, who she was or how these notebooks ended up in the family remains a mystery.
The calligraphy and attention to detail in each pen stroke is truly amazing. This isn't just handwriting, it's art, and no one writes like this anymore.
I opened my notebook for comparison and died a little inside. My
drunken-bear style scribbling is ghastly compared to Hortense's beautiful penmanship.
I would have taken pictures as proof, but feared they would have caused irreparable
damage to my camera.
I wish I knew more about Hortense, who she was and what her life must have been like... maybe in absence of fact, I can write a story...
*****
If you guys are interested in seeing where I produce most of my drunken-bear writing, I'll be over at the Writing Nut next Wednesday for a Wednesday Writer's Workspace interview!
Hope to see you all there.
:)
:)
