Monday, February 6, 2012

Response, Sil Vous Plait

If you didn't grow up with computers, you might not know what RSVP means. (Hint: check out the title) It's French. And it means "Respond, if you please." Alas, it belongs to the lost art of replying to an invitation. A written one. One that requires you to write (or call) with an answer.

Although I dreaded having to write them but was forced to by my mother, my grandmother got written Thank You cards or letters. In later years, it became permissable to call (generally because we needed to confirm the gift arrived safely via UPS).

When relatives or friends passed away, scores of sympathy cards were sent to the family.

Now responses, thank yous, sympathies are all texted, tweeted, Facebooked, emailed.

I predict the current generation of elementary school students will not know how to handwrite much more than their names. What do you think? Do you use cursive beyond signing? Do you use print?


Char