Oh, Erik Estrada. I loved you when I was about 11…
If you’re old enough to know who both Erik Estrada and Emilio Estevez are without googling them, then you may better understand just why I love the quirkiness of Christina Vanko’s recent project, ‘Modern Day Snail Mail’.
There is something so much more personal in the handwritten word than of those merely typed onto a screen. There is a sense that the writer is closer to you. That a little piece of them is on the page.
I’ve always had a thing for beautiful handwriting. Especially, when one has such a fabulous calligraphy technique as Christina Vanko!
(Image by TSL)
Anyhoo, who is this Christina Vanko of whom I speak, you may ask?
A fairly recent graduate of Indiana University’s BFA Graphic Design, she started this whimsical project after trying out her father’s calligraphy pen and falling in love.
She decided to create handwritten text messages for a week – 7 days without using the keyboard on her phone to send a message. Instead, she wrote out all her messages on paper before taking a photograph, which was then sent as a text message.
(Image from here)
(Image from here)
In this modern age of texting in lieu of telephone conversation, or even face-to-face communication, this is no mean feat. And, if you think I am joking – consider this: the teenager has been known to sit on the same couch as his best friend while they text each other. Seriously.
And, don’t even get me started on whether he can write in cursive…
So, as I received so much pleasure out of Christina’s project, I am making my own wee pledge to hand-write whenever I can. Instead of dashing off an email ‘thank you’ note, I am promising myself that I will make the time to hand-write a card and send it via snail mail. And, who doesn’t love receiving a handwritten note or letter in the post…?
I know Erik. He was CHIPS.
You can still surprise me!
What about Emilio – any joy there?
ANF is an uber hipster. Don’t knock the teenager’s handwriting, it’s better than mine and I grew up before there were electric typewriters…
Maybe über is over-stating it just a tad? After all, he only remembered Erik. Emilio was left behind.
Your handwriting is definitely worse than the teenager’s, though. I had not considered that at the time of writing. 🙂
Handwriting the forgotten art. I love receiving hand written note. My packs for clients always contain a little handwritten note, it is amazing the comments that you get, something so simple seems to bring a smile! 🙂
Isn’t that interesting, BCD? Goes to show the importance of the little things! They count.
Hope you and the bump are well. 🙂
both doing well….. bump is getting a little spoilt with the nursery at the moment…… Bump is a very tough client, cannot make up their mind about anything! ( OK maybe that would be me!) 🙂
VERY exciting, though…
Good to hear you are both well. 🙂
I was surprised to learn that kids aren’t even being taught to write cursive in our school system and they can’t read it. The Palmer Method was our rite of passage out of 3rd grade into the adult world of 4th graders. I am going to write personal thank you note…if i can remember how to do it. The only thing I have written for years is my grocery lists and checks.
Would you like my address…? 🙂
Totally crushed on Erik Estrada. Not so much on Emilio. I love this concept. What a great idea!
I’m with you! On both counts.