“My friends and I all roll our eyes about this generation,” says Ellen Prague, owner of The Paper Shop, in Winter Park, Florida. “These kids don’t care about any of that. You’re lucky if you get a text.
” “If the Baby Boomers don’t teach the next generation, this will be a dying art,” laments Maureen Hall, owner of Maureen H. Hall Stationery and Invitations, another chic stationery store in the same town. “Parents need to start early,” Hall adds.
“Teaching the next generation the art of proper correspondence goes along with teaching them the other social graces like proper manners and proper grammar.” “And how to set a table,” I chime in, just to stir the pot. “Don’ t get me started,” Hall said.
“They don’t know how, so they roll up all the silverware in a napkin.” As someone in constant pursuit of more gracious living, I have to say, at the risk of sounding like Miss Thistlebottom, I wholeheartedly agree with these women. Expressing your gratitude in writing is not only proper etiquette, but in this digital age of instant messaging, handwritten notes are a refreshing personal touch.
They are the grace notes in today’s hectic, techno life. “They elevate you,” says Prague. “Handwritten notes have a greater impact than any other form of correspondence, much better than a phone call, email or text,” Prague adds.
“Those communications are all transient. Notes are tactile and visual. Even if you throw them away, their memory lin.
