Precious ink

[Twig]

I can't figure out where to post this topic. Maybe a kind mod will move it if this isn't the right spot.

I was listening to a radio program the other day about the disappearing art of writing with an actual pen or pencil. The discussion went to letter writing and the bond which is broken between hand and brain when using a keyboard instead of a pen. Very interesting show. But the most touching part was when listeners called in and told about their most precious hand-written items. One lady had a note from her son who had a learning disability; the note to his mother was the first thing he'd ever written.

So, what is your most prized hand-written possession? Mine is the last card my mother ever sent me, consoling me after I'd had to euthanize my beloved dog. Her handwriting had deteriorated a bit, but I could tell she'd worked hard to write a meaningful, compassionate note. I had no idea that she was dying at the time she wrote to me. Two weeks later, she was gone. When I touch that note, when I run my hand over her writing, I am touching her.

[ShadowCat]

I've got a cookbook that belonged to my grandfather. He passed when I was one year old, so I have no memory of him directly. Yet, I somehow inherited his love for cooking and homesteading. In the cover of his cookbook, he wrote recipes of his own. Those are priceless to me.

(Also, he collected wildflowers, and since my grandma died last years, I've got his flowerbooks to, in one of them, I found a bunch of dried fourleavedclovers a few weeks back, though not ink, they are also extremely valuable to me).

[JamesAnthony]

I don't really have anything of such value. However me and my father only really bonded through our similar reading interests Authors such as Conn Iggulden, Bernard Cornwell and particularly David Gemmell. Ultimately these were the books that kindled my interest in paganism. There's even a 'African' chap in King Beyond the Gate by David Gemmell called Pagan. A minor but amazing character I highly recommend his books. So in answer to the question the only precious ink I own are books that both me and my father enjoyed together. Even tho I now own a kindle I still hold onto Gemmells books as they are magical.

[Twig]

Hey, James -- I think that totally meets the criteria of "precious ink." Something special between a father & son and a great story. I have to check out some of those authors.

ShadowCat -- I absolutely love your examples. Grandparents are such a gift... Recipes are very personal, and the flowers! So touching...

[Heddwen]

In the same vein although slightly differently, I took an autobiographical writing course last year and have kept some handwritten copies of vignettes of my life for my children . They are in a folder ready to be handed down to them after my days, if they are interested in such things.

[Twig]

What a great idea, Heddwen. I think that fits in with the spirit of this topic really well, and your kids are going to be so happy to have that gift from you. Trust me -- they'll be interested!

[Heddwen]

I do hope that they take an interest in family history Twig, and that they pass things down to the next generation.

[Mystical Journey]

I do not have anything that I have been able to save either but so miss the art of writing. I still write using pen and notebook. All of my poetry is written in various notebooks as are my stories. Then I type them up later. I can't get flow when typing, it has to be pen and paper or I have to focus to much on the keyboard and spelling and such. Funny, huh? lol..

[Aphritha]

I don't have much that I've been able to hold onto either, with all the spontanious moves I've had to make. I do keep the vows I wrote for my wedding in my wallet, however...as a reminder to myself from myself, and a pleasant memory of the day.

[Twig]

Heddwen -- What you have done will pique their interest, Heddewn. Sometimes that's all it takes. My own mother made sure all of the photographs were dated and labeled, and she saved special little items that belonged to my great-grandmother. My cousin's daughter has expressed lots of interest in our family history, so you've made a great start.

Mystical Journey -- I miss the art of handwriting, too, and find that if I really want to compose something from the heart that I have to write it by hand first. You are right; the flow is interrupted by the intrusion of a keyboard. That's what so many kids are missing out on today.

Aphritha -- Extremely cool that you keep your wedding vows in your wallet! To me, that goes perfectly with this topic. It is "precious ink" to you, so that's what matters. You are the first person I've ever heard of to do this, and I love the idea.

[Fox]

Hi Twig,

Last year my mother posted me a huge parcel with all the old letters I'd left behind during the 70s and 80s. I've read through a few but need to start a project to read them all and sort them out in some sort of order.

Or do I?

I think I do, just so they take up less space! Anyway, all hand-written needless to say, and each brings a memory back.

[Twig]

Around 1990 or so, my mother sent me a bunch of old letters I'd written to my parents beginning in college. (She was downsizing.) It was weird to read my own letters!

I had a stash like you're describing -- a big ol' box full of hand-written letters I'd received from friends through the years. I'd read them all several times before, and when I moved this last time in 2009, I had a big bonfire. Now I am downsizing! Hope you enjoy reading those letters you have; they really are a treasure in this day of email & texting. Precious ink, indeed.

[Fox]

Around 1990 or so, my mother sent me a bunch of old letters I'd written to my parents beginning in college. (She was downsizing.) It was weird to read my own letters!

I had a stash like you're describing -- a big ol' box full of hand-written letters I'd received from friends through the years. I'd read them all several times before, and when I moved this last time in 2009, I had a big bonfire. Now I am downsizing! Hope you enjoy reading those letters you have; they really are a treasure in this day of email & texting. Precious ink, indeed.

I'm keeping mine - have to give those future historians something to work with

[Twig]

Excellent idea. Then we can all say "we knew you when."

My mother also gave me a box of letters she & my dad wrote to each other when he was in boot camp during WWII. They are a treasure!

[Crimson Stormfire]

alot for me actually, some of what i have posted here is actually penned out while on my break at work or while outside on my porch at my apartment, or just sitting in my chair.....i dont have an ipad or a cell phone with a texty thing so i rely on my pen and paper to etch out ideas.....i believe that there is a flow of awen that stems through that particular current much like a druid or witch with a wand or stave, the pen or stylus, quill or what have you is the extension and graphite or ink is the magic that binds and holds the ideas and images painted into the world.......so yeah for me all hand written items hold a special place of sacred.

[Twig]

I think that's what the program I heard was trying to point out, only use science instead of Awen. Your remark is spot on, Crimson Stormfire. I believe that whole-heartedly.

[Salomea]

I love hand-writing, (even though I've it awful and dyslexia ) and I love letters. Writing just feel s specially and, as for me at least, seems to help in remembering things. As for precious things I guess it would be a letter and a note from my boyfriend- I was supposed to receive it on valentine's day in 2008, but he needed 3 days to finish this 1,5 page letter, so obviously I got it later It's also hard to read it as my beloved tends to get this grandiloquent, epic style, plus half of it is erotic, so it's not for anyone else to read but aside it's naive and embarrassing it's still very sweet the note is later and it's even sweeter, cause it's a normal words "thank you for being with me " note ^^

[dream soul]

My most precious writing possession isn't something written, it's my grandmother's fountain pen. It was passed to me by my dad, and it writes beautifully. I only use it when writing special things

[Twig]

What a treasure, dream soul! That's a gift you'll cherish your whole life & then to pass on to your kids the same way your grandmother did.

I love fountain pens. They seem more like paint brushes or those old quills that calligraphers used to use -- more like something to make art with than to write a check with. Using a pen like the one your dad has would really "connect" the writer to the words written.

Love letters, Salomea! That's the cream of the crop!! You hang onto those.

[Crimson Stormfire]

speaking of love letters i discussed this topic with my wife and she told me her most prized precious ink was her firs anniversary gift from me.....i found and compiled every single e-mail, written love letter, silly written i love you, etc etc that we had exchanged for the 1 year we dated and the first year of our marriage. I covered some cardboard in velvet and made two covers between which i bound evrything in order by date and presented my wife a collection of our most treasured love letters poems stories, a timeline of us.