Power Of The Card

I'd bet that a lot of people dread going to the mailbox. Why? There is probably going to be a bill for something in there. And surrounding that will probably be some junk mail, maybe a catalogue. There just isn't anything of much interest waiting in most of our mailboxes. But, oh the pleasant surprise when there is a piece of snail mail from an old friend!

I love to send mail. Snail mail to be more accurate. It's probably my favorite form of communication. Yeah, I do send email (a few people probably wish I'd stop!) and I can talk on the phone (I just don't like to. My parents sure were glad that I skipped right over that teenage phase...lol.) but I love to send mail. I send a lot of cards and letters and occasionally there is the care package.

You might think I'm just a really sweet person for sending mail to others, but I have a hidden motive. I like to buy cards. I'm a card nut. If there was a fetish involving greeting cards I'd probably have to claim it. I could spend hours in a card shop. And there doesn't have to be a particular reason to buy a card. I don't limit myself to birthdays and holidays. I learned early on in college that a trip to the campus mailbox could make or break my day (or week or month or semester). There is just something not nice about opening an empty mailbox. Also, there is the whole element of surprise. You're not expecting a sweet note or snickery card to be there waiting for you. I don't always have the element of surprise because I can't keep anything a secret and I usually spill the beans and warn the recipient that it's coming. But, there are times when I restrain myself and just wait for the reply. I love it when I'm sending a care package and the post office guy asks if I'd like delivery confirmation. I just smile and say that I'll know when they get it.

I haven't made a list in a while (and in honor of this post) I thought I'd list a few of the saying on some of my favorite cards.

Front: A tall flagpole with a big pair of undies flying.
Inside: Congratulations on your big ass achievement.

Front: When you're feeling down just do what I do...
Inside: Make everyone else around you miserable!

Front: Happy Birthday (completely white background with black typewriter font)
Inside: They say the generic brand cards are just as good as name brand.

Front: Picture of Paul Revere and some Revolutionary soldiers
Inside: So apparently being a minute man used to be a good thing.

Front: A guy in prison striped black and white with a ball and chain
Inside: Enough about me...where did your parents go wrong?

Front: Cruise ship and paradise looking stuff and If it were MY birthday I'd take all my friends on an all-expenses-paid cruise to an EXOTIC island.
Inside: But that's just me. I'm sure your little cake and ice cream thing will be just fine.

And those are just a few. I figure that if I'm laughing out loud in the store then the person who gets the card will probably crack a smile at the mailbox.

So, as I eagerly await the arrive of my "care" package, I challenge you to take some time and send someone a little happiness through the mail!