When I was around 10, I started mirror writing. I think my father first mentioned it to me; later I learned about Leonardo. I found it rather easy to write backwards in cursive. It got to where I could do a decent job with my left hand too, but it was always prettier from my right. It’s kind of crazy, to actually view mirror writing in a mirror. It always looks off, the way a picture of an upside down face looks weird if you turn it around.

It was a natural step from mirror writing to reading backwards and sometimes upside down. Anagram puzzles and license plate games helped too; after awhile letter order just didn’t matter that much.

I recommend viewing backwards whenever you wish. It will demonstrate to you how often coincidence occurs: dog/god, live/evil, stressed/desserts. It will sometimes create lovely sounds; try backwards pronouncing AIRPORT or EMBARCADERO or SACRAMENTO. But mostly it will entertain you. Sometimes I laugh out loud reading street and business signs backwards.

Every Bob I know reverses the spelling of his name. And my oldest grandson, my grandboy OttO? He spells his name backwards and upside down.