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Lost
Arts
By
Mona Lease
Hi,
all!! I sat writing out thank you notes and addressing envelopes - by
hand. My mind drifted - as usual - to my teen years. That's 40+ years
ago, now.
There's
a tattered book on my book shelf. The back cover is gone, too. It's
roughly the size of a post card. In it are signatures - many who
signed it are gone as well.
I was
11. I handed this book to everyone I knew in school, at home, or
around the neighborhood. I handed it to my Uncle Bobby. He asked me
if I could write 10,000 words a minute - I said no. Breathlessly, I
asked if he could. He said yes and wrote - "Ten thousand words a
minute." That was my Uncle Bobby.
Uncle
Bobby had a brother - my Uncle Frank. He had his own "cast of
characters." Jack the Whipper stands out in my mind. Jack sold
whipper sticks to the mothers of the neighborhood children. He'd tell
the local kiddies that Jack had been spotted in the area. Some kids
ran toward home. Some stood and waited to hear more.
It
would take me years to grasp their ways .....you need to think for
yourself. You need to develop your brain...was Uncle Frank's logic. I
think Uncle Bobby's was how easy it is to be "taken." Were
I to have bet on the 10,000 words a minute - I'd have lost - no lines
were drawn - like...you can't just spell it - or if the words have to
make any sense - or who would be timing it.
Forty+
years later after a few of the signatures were put on paper - I ran
into some of these "signature owners." I explained that I
still had the book. Their first response was a wide-eyed "No
way!" "Bring it with you next time" followed their
first response. I did. We passed it around and marveled at our youth,
innocence, how our penmanship had changed and all the other memories
a mere signature brought to mind.
I've
asked local store employees if they sell Autograph Books. Most do not
even know about them. Most do not know why you would want to do such
a thing. I realize this is mostly a female tradition. But - it was
interesting to watch people resign their name under the original
signature - as if to say - "I've matured and we are still
friends."
Remember
the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the furry and
feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next time. Ever
Toodles!! MONA
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