Written Word Has A Home In Larkspur

By Kelly Harris

Just a few short decades ago, the written word was a big part of our everyday lives. Children took handwriting classes, adults delivered hand written notes for every special occasion and bosses handed out written notes of appreciation.

During most wars in recent history, handwritten letters were the only way families could communicate with their loved ones overseas. These handwritten letters to our military heroes have been romanticized over the years in every kind of Hollywood film imaginable. But written communication is dying – and it’s dying hard. 

Alex Beritzhoff, owner of Folio Fine Stationery and Gifts in Larkspur has made it her own personal crusade to bring back the art of the written word – one Bay Area resident at a time. 

Beritzhoff decided to purchase Folio Fine Stationery and Gifts at a time in her life when she probably shouldn’t have taken such a risk – especially in the retail industry. But her passion for the written word, fine stationery and unique custom paper goods simply wouldn’t allow her to pass up the opportunity to start a simple crusade – reminding people how important a handwritten note can be. 

“It’s no mystery why people aren’t communicating with handwriting anymore – we are texting, Tweeting, Facebooking and e-mailing thousands of times per day, it’s just become the norm,” Beritzhoff said. “And I’m not on a crusade against technology – I agree that we should embrace it where it makes sense. But when a loved one passes away, your family member graduates from college, you’ve lost touch with a special friend, or you just had the job interview of a lifetime, there’s just something so special and personal about a handwritten note, delivered on beautiful stationery. And it’s still considered proper etiquette - people need to be reminded of that.” 

So Beritzhoff begins a three-month long educational series to put Bay Area residents back in touch with their writing-selves. The first in the series, The Handwritten Note, will take place on June 21st at 7 p.m. at her store, Folio Fine Stationery and Gifts located at 1118 Magnolia Avenue.  

Angie Allison, Chief Etiquette Officer of Marin-based The Protocol Academy and Alex will speak on writing etiquette – when it is appropriate to send a written note, what you should say, how to write and address it, and on what it should be written. Light refreshments will be served as participants are reminded how special it feels to give and receive handwritten notes while perusing Folio’s fine handwriting gifts like custom journals and specialty pens. Everyone will go home with an etiquette-related gift to get started. 

“There’s just something so personal about connecting with people on a different level than e-communication. Remember the anticipation we used to have when we walked to the mailbox? Now, all we receive is junk mail. If my generation doesn’t re-instill these values in our children, written communication could be lost forever,” Beritzhoff said. “Test yourself to see if your handwriting is getting worse – go back to a high school scrapbook or a college term paper – then write a few of those same sentences today. Nine times out of ten, people’s handwriting has gotten progressively worse over the years. Soon, we won’t be writing at all. That’s sad to me and I want to do something to inspire a passion in writing again.”