Before ChatGPT, before autofill, before Clippy the cartoon paper clip ever chirped, “It looks like you’re writing a letter. Would you like help?” the greeting card offered us the option of communicating our thoughts using someone else’s words.
Great piece. An earlier version of me could spend an hour in the greeting card aisle perusing the selections -- just for fun. It can be very entertaining and weirdly educational!
When you get to Valentine's Day, come on over. I'll set up the dining room table as I used to when my kids still had to bring cards for every classmate. We'd cut and glue and sticker and doily our way to the big day. (I still send my kids homemade Valentine's day cards.)
It was a fascinating experience. Very generic, but then you also learn what counts as a "type". Like there was this one card to a daughter, praising her creativity, saying, "You leave glitter everywhere . . . " I guess enough people can relate to that that it's worth putting in stock . . .
You always hit the proverbial nail right on its proverbial head, Kate! Since my knees have failed, I haven't been able to roam the card shops as readily as before - but I have discovered on-line card shops! Some even allow you to create your own message! I can send you links for next year, when your daughter turns 21 -- now THERE's a card category for ya!
You had me at "Sir Philip Sidney."
figured. Do you like my faux dissertation titles, though? Someone alert Paul Menzer!
Thanks so much for "sharing the very best" critique of Hallmark I have ever seen.
I avoid Hallmark like the plague.
Dollar General does so much better, especially with their totally blank ones which allow full personal expression.
Great piece. An earlier version of me could spend an hour in the greeting card aisle perusing the selections -- just for fun. It can be very entertaining and weirdly educational!
When you get to Valentine's Day, come on over. I'll set up the dining room table as I used to when my kids still had to bring cards for every classmate. We'd cut and glue and sticker and doily our way to the big day. (I still send my kids homemade Valentine's day cards.)
It was a fascinating experience. Very generic, but then you also learn what counts as a "type". Like there was this one card to a daughter, praising her creativity, saying, "You leave glitter everywhere . . . " I guess enough people can relate to that that it's worth putting in stock . . .
Cannot bear to buy the serious cards either…loved this…🇫🇷
thank you! Glad it's not just me . . .
You always hit the proverbial nail right on its proverbial head, Kate! Since my knees have failed, I haven't been able to roam the card shops as readily as before - but I have discovered on-line card shops! Some even allow you to create your own message! I can send you links for next year, when your daughter turns 21 -- now THERE's a card category for ya!
Yep, I'm sure "21st Birthday" was there, along with each decade. Apparently it's hilarious to turn 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70!
Oh, but it is! There is a whole line of cards that ask, "How do you spell..." <insert age>? and inside it says, "TEQUILLA!" I can get behind that.