A couple of weeks ago, I was introduced to a boy with a hat.
He is worthy of admiration for having taught himself English in just three years. Now, he has greater mastery of the language than many natives that I know. It’s a bit intimidating.
One particular day, we were (or, at least, I was) bemoaning the demise of handwriting by its fine rival, the keyboard.
I happened to let slip that the only use I have for my scrawl these days is writing in a gift card.
“Oh! Will you send me one too?” he asks. “Leave it for me on your windowsill (tie it with a red ribbon so I know it’s from you)…”.
I had to ponder this challenge a while, which now makes me a little ashamed to call myself a creative writer.
The solution, though, is one of the reasons I had to free up space in my posting schedule 🙂
So, in honour of the boy who inspired me to let the moonlight in – this one is for you… 😉
Do you send gift cards? What do you love about sending or receiving them?
If you’d like me to leave you a gift card on my windowsill – don’t be shy! Just leave a comment, with a link to a favourite post of yours that may inspire or intrigue me. Tell me something about yourself and your passions – you never know where it may lead 🙂
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I’m no graphic artist, so credit for the images assembled goes as follows:
- Vintage envelope by dubyadesig courtesy stock.xchng
- Red ribbon by kunistvan courtesy stock.xchng
- Owl in the moonlight by rknds courtesy stock.xchng
- Vintage card by ba1969 courtesy stock.xchng
Alarna Rose Gray 
What a clever idea. Yes, I write personal cards weekly. I am part of a large women”s service organization that weekly sends out requests for “card showers” to members experiencing an illness or hardship. Amazing what a personal note can do for someone. But I haven’t tried a verse.
Oh, that sounds like a very valuable service – you’re right, sometimes it’s just about someone out there thinking of you! Verse is something I started writing in gift cards when I became an aunt – I couldn’t think what else to write for little one’s who can’t talk or read…and now it’s become something of a habit 🙂
Wow! You are creative, sweetheart! Believe me or not, that boy really does a great job with his blog. Certainly, a true writer!!
Much love,
-Naima.
Thank you, Naima! You’re right about ‘that boy’, though. I think I’ve fallen a little bit for his blog – there’s something very creative about his thought process 🙂
I second your thoughts! He really is amazing and so are you for crediting him, sweetheart! 🙂
Love,
-Naima.
The boy with a hat is wonderstruck!
Alarna you’ve made my day, and I would hug you if I could.
I will be walking on the moon today.
I have to go now but I will reread this many times later and think of a clever comment, worthy of such a glorious post.
Aussies are the best!
So thrilled to hear of you walking on the moon, for that is where a boy like you belongs 😉 In fact, while you’re up there, you might meet my dear beloved ginger moggie, Bobbin (may he rest in peace)…
Metal salutes to you and that boy with a hat!\m/\m/
This would be “A feather in one’s cap” for you dear, Alarna. Warm wishes and cheers to you, wise lady. 🙂
Love,
Rahul
Thanks so much, Rahul! I should blow some kisses in return for the salute 😉
Haha! My pleasure as usual and thank you so much for those sweet kisses too. 😀 😉 🙂
Rahul
I have to agree , with the top bit. Keyboards have troubled me forever. I think that as a writer the ’emotional aspect ‘ in writing is often protrayed by the writer’s handwriting. It reveals a certain passion that as writers, who work in silence’ ,like me, sometimes fail to express vocally , because of an overall limit to ’emotional conversations, which I just dislike.
I love how you have put that – you are right, handwriting can disclose emotions that (also for me) are rarely evident in conversation. The problem is the way the keyboard has sped everything up so that the hand can no longer cope with the flow!
Reblogged this on boy with a hat and commented:
Some moonlit nights, the boy with a hat stops writing, and looks through his window at the moon, and thinks about an Aussie…
This was so much better to wake to then my neighbour blaring his radio! Thanks for the Sunday surprise 🙂
Reblogged this on Raven's Witch and commented:
this posts really put a smile on my face and i wanted to share it and say…
the ‘boy with a hat’ blog is awesome. his blog is well worth following 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing! My second surprise for the day 🙂
What a great post, it’s sad that letter writing is disappearing, and the keyboard is dominant. Though if I write a short story I usually write long hand first, and then type it up when I edit. Ideas seem to flow more freely when I actually write rather than type. I agree with you about The Boy with a Hat, I think he is amazingly talented.
I am a follower of yours now too. Happy blogging cheers Judy
judysp.wordpress.com
So pleased to meet you, Judy – and thanks for following! I love the different approaches people have to writing – I used to be like you and hand write first, but now it’s become so illegible that the ugliness puts me off my game 🙂 Will be over to visit your blog shortly 🙂
Lovely!
Thank you 🙂
I find that note mesmerizing. I’ll admit that I couldn’t appreciate the boy’s love for handwriting until now. It is sad that notes like this are becoming so rare. Thanks for keeping the spirit alive!
Thanks for appreciating it! I have to admit, I didn’t really give it a second thought until the Boy. But it is a dying form of love, and something I’ve always enjoyed 🙂
I’ve had this peculiar dream last night about moonbeams and Australian gray roses! I think it must have had something to do with you, Alarna. 😉
Haha! As long as it’s a good dream, I’m sure this is what every writer loves to hear 🙂
Haha this is so sweet. I am a graphic designer and if you give me a subject and a message I’ll be more than happy to make you a card : )
I want to be part of this! I too love Vincent Mars’ writing n.n
Wow, I’d be honoured for you to take part in this – your work is beautiful! 🙂 Let me see where the inspiration takes me, and I’ll definitely be in touch. Thanks so much 🙂
I love that tree pic–I just finished a mixed media painting with a tree that has that same curliness to it. 🙂 Another great post Alarna!
Oh, I don’t think I properly realised you are a painter! Do we get to see the painting at all? I would love to see it, anyway – and how’s that for synchronicity? 😉
Wow, Alarna, what a beautiful poem. I absolutely love it. And the Boy With a Hat is amazing. I wonder if his IQ is something like 140? I’m so bad at writing gift cards anymore. 😦 I do think it’s sad that many young people these days don’t even know how to handwrite. They get away with just printing when writing a note or a card. I wonder how they’re able to write their signature?
You are super talented, and this blog post proves it once again.
Thanks for all your support lately with the self-pubbing process. I’ve overcome a few hurdles and just received the first proof! So hotdog, it’s a wonderful feeling. Still have a long way to go, but little by little gets us where we need to be! Take care!
Thanks so much, Lynn! Your presence has been missed, that’s for sure, but I fully understand the contortions that you must have been doing. I’m going through a similar thing right now (having been keeping quiet on it in case it doesn’t work). Anyone who said self-pubbing was easy needs their brain examined 🙂
Glad you’re getting there, and only wish I could be of more help than a bit of well wishing!
So nice.
Thanks! 🙂