March 14, 2006

Thank You for Tonight!
FOUND by Colin Ryono in Portland, Oregon
Found in northwest Portland, the day after it was written, as I was returning home from an anti-war demonstration.
Colin in Portland, OR
On the other side of the note (from the person who found it):

I don't know what my issue is exactly. But I'm sure you've noticed or maybe you haven't. ...I've changed. As always I look at you, into your eyes. I get lost and instantly know that I'm very deeply and passionately very much in love with you. I Love You!"

I love how the note is a rollercoaster in its tone. We worry about what the payoff is going to be when the author says "Anyway, there are things I want to tell you but I'm not sure how. I don't know what my issue is exactly" and "But I'm sure you've noticed or maybe you haven't...I've changed" ... but it all ends well with the statement of love. Is this the first time the author has told Amberly this?
+ November 10, 2006 09:25 PM +
Kathryn in Washington, D.C.
I wonder if Amberly even saw it, since it was found the day after it was written. To add an air of interest for me, my sister's name is Amberleigh, and I don't know that I've ever actually heard of another person with that name.
+ November 10, 2006 10:48 PM +
kevin in Madison, WI
I'm no handwriting expert, but I find it interesting that the whole thing is written with the letters slanting forward up until we get to the last line. Suddenly, it slants backward. It seems to be the same handwriting, but its character drastically changes at that point. Also, the first few periods are actually small x's, up until the last one. Then everything changes.


+ November 19, 2006 12:30 AM +
Mindy in Massachusetts
I noticed the same thing about the slant of the words...it is very disturbing. Ambidextrous perhaps? Maybe she/he was so nervous about what was about to be confessed that they had to adjust before continuing on:-)
+ December 12, 2006 07:29 PM +
Casey in Crossville, TN
That is beautiful handwriting!
+ January 21, 2007 06:25 PM +
Vickie in Greensboro
That is the prettiest handwriting I've ever seen!
+ January 31, 2007 02:05 PM +
Joey Carol in Kentucky
Actually, the different slants in the handwriting are probably due to the position of the arm. Depending on how your arm is laying on the surface you're writing on, it has an effect on the direction your letters flow. At least this is true for me.
+ February 02, 2007 10:17 PM +
Sydney in compton
is the how written backwards loopy becasue your indesisive?
+ February 08, 2007 11:28 AM +
Jules in melbourne
I think the handwriting changed because the writer probably had thought out the beginning of the letter and was making an effort to write nicely (the x's for full stops,e tc) but then, when the writer is excited and happy they don't care as much about their writing - the words aren't planned.
+ February 08, 2007 10:38 PM +
Mia in Hawaii
This note makes me wish my name was Amberly and I could write like that!
+ February 10, 2007 12:42 AM +
Trisda in Washoe, Nv.
I think that the hand writing to far too beautiful to be a man's. futhermore, I think that the hand writing changes because the writer is nervous about coming out to the woman SHE loves...
+ February 11, 2007 04:43 PM +
Matt in San Francisco
I think it's more likely the writing changed because he got to the bottom of the page and didn't have the pad to rest his hand on anymore. That happens to me sometimes.
+ February 21, 2007 06:27 PM +
andrew in ptowne
i think this letter involves two woman, thats how life goes in NW portland. sweet handstyles tho
+ March 05, 2007 01:55 AM +
b in oregon
portlanders are so poetic :) Just looking at this note, without reading it is beautiful.
(sidenote: I have seen some men write just like this, determining sex through penmanship is difficult - I just like to think that these are two people who are now very committed to each other.)
+ April 13, 2007 10:16 AM +
ashpash in st.louis
i read a book about handwriting analysis and the first section of handwriting represents leaning towards love or relationships, while the slant back indicates a slight distaste for relationships and intimacy...
+ April 18, 2007 04:04 PM +
Katherine in Cincinnati, Ohio.
I think the handwriting changed because the person was writing in a notebook and they got to the bottom of the page and had to shift position.

Whatever the case, this is sweet.
+ May 10, 2007 06:03 PM +
rant in elsewhere
Men are entirely capable of having good handwriting. Where do people of either sex get the idea all men write sloppily?
+ May 15, 2007 03:06 PM +
rant in elsewhere
Men are entirely capable of having good handwriting. Where do people of either sex get the idea all men write sloppily?
+ May 15, 2007 03:48 PM +
jenny in WS
I think the question here is what the hell kind of name is Amberly, and why you would want to date anyone with that name. Sounds like a stripper with scabies.
+ May 25, 2007 01:33 PM +
sheridan in Utah
Maybe Amberly is the pet name of a lesbian couple named Amber and Kimberly. It is easy to see how one or the other might feel taken for granted. And now it appears the third member of the triad is backing out! It will take more than pretty handwriting to fix this!
+ May 27, 2007 06:01 PM +
::
Beautiful handwriting...
+ June 02, 2007 06:45 PM +
2dizzylizzie in Dub,IRL
The writer is probably someone who studied calligraphy at one stage, the style is very Celtic, and done in Italics which is harder again to maintain the script so beautifully, but it is not purposely in a Celtic calligraphy style as it is also joint, calligraphy is generally not joint script. the author could easily be male or female
+ June 12, 2007 10:14 PM +
kizzikoko in Grand Rapids, MI
What is so "pretty" about the script?
It's legible, but very elementary in style.
It's a sad fact that handwriting is no longer a required skill for students. Most everything is done on a computer these days. Teachers don't seem to want to put in the effort of having to decipher the wingding-chicken scratchings of the unpracticed hand. My dad has the most beautiful handwriting I've ever seen from a dude. But then again, back in his day, they practiced the Palmer Method. Reading letters from soldiers during WWII, it's quite evident that penmanship was an important skill learned in school. People constantly comment on my "awesome" handwriting skills. I have a flair because I used to love to practice writing and making up my own fonts.
Yep, handwriting skills rank right up there with numchuck skills!
+ June 28, 2007 11:46 AM +
someone in chicago
kevin: i was wondering the same thing. i thought that was rather odd. i know my direction tends to change a bit while writing but never that much. huh.
+ July 03, 2007 04:50 PM +
Elleestmort in the Netherlands
Romantic
Too bad that the person where it is ment for didn't found it.
Beautifull handwriting
+ July 09, 2007 04:16 AM +
djinn in amusement
Gotta go with kizzikoko on this one. . the writing is flashy, but it's not penmanship. It's a mixture of cursive and print, something I notice because it drives my mother crazy. And then she passes the crazy on to me.
+ July 14, 2007 09:09 AM +
Wishful in Hope
It's so romantic
I hope the Amberly and the letter-writer are still happily together,
This boy seems to be a keeper
What he has written is beautiful
+ July 19, 2007 01:37 AM +
Languorous Lass in Washington, DC
When I saw the handwriting, I figured that the note was written by a guy with all the class of The Onion's Smoove B. I'd post a link to one of his op-eds, but I suspect it wouldn't work, so I'll just recommend that people go to The Onion's website, click on Op/Ed, and search for Smoove B. http://www.theonion.com/content/columnists/girl_tha
+ July 27, 2007 02:26 PM +
stephanie in asheville, nc
Beautiful handwriting and beautiful words-one of my favorites finds.
+ August 04, 2007 06:13 PM +
Jonathan in a romantic haze
Stephanie, I couldn't have put it better.
I get the feeling (from the handwriting and the words) that this might be a gentleman of a certain age, who can't quite believe how blessed he is to find love at this time in his life, and he wants to tell her but is slightly scared that this thing is so fragile he doesn’t want to spoil it.
Alternatively... he could be a gullible old chap who is being taken for a ride by young Amberly who is only after his money and is planning to screw his brains out until he drops dead and leaves it all to her. But somehow I don’t think so – I prefer the romantic explanation. I hope they’re still happy and gazing into each other’s eyes.
+ August 07, 2007 08:21 PM +
board in work
I agrees with all of you about the sweetness and lovely handwriting, but does any one else get a little creeped out by this? A bit of it sounds like he is watching her, and I find that creepy!
+ August 09, 2007 06:50 PM +
Melissa in College West Res
I have to side with Jonathan on this one - this does sound like an older gentleman writing here. Much of the older generation writes nice like this, the nuns would hit your hands with a strap at school otherwise (at least that's what my grandmother told me). The letter sounds really sweet though, but again it doesn't sound like a young person speaking here. It's very mature. I'm thinking of a distinguished gentleman with a lot of money and educated background.
+ October 29, 2007 08:53 PM +
Denise in San Antonio, TX
The handwriting astonished me. It's absolutely gorgeous.
+ November 04, 2007 06:33 PM +
james in austin, tx
im sad to think that the person she was writing to never received it. such a beautiful note lost.
+ November 09, 2007 06:23 PM +
Jacquie in Asheville, NC
I was at that anti-war march in Portland. I was nine months pregnant and thought I would go into labor during the walk downtown. This note makes me homesick. I have a picture of that day. Maybe I even saw the author of the note that day. Maybe I should have named my kid Amberly. Thank God I had a boy.
+ November 30, 2007 02:01 PM +
melanie in portland, OR
I'm with Colin, I find the note to be a confusing rollercoaster. He says she is looking well, as if he hasn't seen her for some time. But then he appreciates all she does for him. But if he loves her, and they are a couple, why is he afraid to tell her? I think Amberly is a beautiful name, but it would have to be someone very young... under age 20, the name is too modern. And I wonder how he's "changed". Interesting.
+ November 30, 2007 08:36 PM +
a bird in the hand
The thing that first struck me, and continues to strike me, about the handwriting, is how self-conscious it is. This is definitely someone who has practiced hard on making her writing "pretty." I've been a junior high and high school girl and believe me, this is no idle speculation. Girls most defintely show off their handwriting, seek to improve it, and complement each other on it. You can see she's drawing attention to it in all the big, unnecessary strokes in the letters, but especially in the fact that she says entire unnecessary sentences, like "You look like you are doing well. I hope that is the case," instead of a simple, "I hope you're doing well," or "You look good, I hope you're well," etc. Thus, the handwriting is really a part of her appeal to Amberly; she's either showing off for her own pride, and the whole elaborately-worded thing is a shallow effort, or she has low self-esteem, and she's trying to make herself appealing.
+ January 21, 2008 08:14 PM +
Caitlin in Melbourne hot night
Amberly sounds like Pemberly, in Pride and Prejudice - perhaps their mother decided to feminise it a little bit.

Or perhaps it's too late and I'm getting delusional.
+ February 17, 2008 04:55 AM +
Elizabeth in SC
kizzikoko, I was taught handwriting in elementary school, and I'm pretty sure they still teach it. I absolutely HATED cursive--I could never make it elegant, and to this day I write in print, even though I did learn how to write in cursive. And when I saw this letter, the first thing I thought was how beautiful the writing was. I've always wanted to be able to write in pretty, flowy cursive. Handwriting just varies from person to person, I suppose.
+ February 23, 2008 08:14 PM +
lurker in the back office
kizzikoko, you may have learned penmanship in school, but you surely didn't learn humility. Wow, your blatant and irrelevant self-promotion made me laugh out loud.
+ February 27, 2008 01:51 PM +
NoPunyNerd in at the keyboard
I personally can't imagine an older gentleman with a lot of money and a good education -- or even a crappy education, for that matter -- ending a sentence with a tiny x instead of a period. Betcha it's a teenaged girl coming out to a female friend. I wonder which one tossed the note ... the writer or the recipient?
+ March 01, 2008 05:34 PM +
Pinky in NorthernCalifornia
I have studied handwriting and the note IS creepy. The handwriting is artificial, showing some signs of a person with experience in caligraphy or perhaps some artistic leanings. That's not a bad thing, but a person's handwriting "presents" them, and this person's presentation is artificial, superficially pleasing. The the text that suggests a kind of stalking attitude is made worse because the capitalization is inappropriate in the entire document: that's a sign that a person places inappropriate importance on things. Changing slant while writing is not bad, but it is a sign of moving forward or moving backward emotionally. If I were Amberly, I would not want a relationship with this person. They're not well-grounded. But, like I said: superficially appealing.
+ March 07, 2008 02:52 PM +
Roxie in Dingmans Ferry, PA
Whether the writer be male or female, I'm surprised no one has guessed that Amberly may be some type of mentor. This could be a working relationship where the 2 parties seldom see each other, & the writer (younger or not) is awestruck with Amberly. That could explain the careful approach to the final message. Colin may have found it after Amberly threw it away.

+ September 12, 2008 07:14 AM +
Amberly in Encinitas ,Ca.
Well My Name Is Amberly,
And A long Time ago I dated someone who lived in that Area... To answer some of the Questions and comments.. No I never received this letter... And I am not a stripper with scabbie's.. ouch... And I really wish I did receive that letter. Who knows what would have happened, but It is a little strange.. That this person waited so long to write ... And that the hand writing is a close copy of my own... A little freaked out, And I wish I could see the rest of the letter.... ?
+ October 16, 2008 07:06 PM +
Colin in Portland, OR
Amberly - if you ever see this, and you'd like to see the rest of the note, let me know. I have a scan of the other half. (I'm the person who found it).
+ November 05, 2008 02:52 PM +
Colin in Portland, OR
REPOSTED: on the other side of the note (from the person who found it):

"I don't know what my issue is exactly. But I'm sure you've noticed or maybe you haven't. ...I've changed. As always I look at you, into your eyes. I get lost and instantly know that I'm very deeply and passionately very much in love with you. I Love You!"
+ November 05, 2008 02:54 PM +
Colin in Portland, OR
Possible Amberly - you mentioned "That this person waited so long to write ..." -- I wanted to make sure you noticed that this was dated March 2003. I don't know if that fits into your timeline or not.
+ November 05, 2008 03:07 PM +

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