I'd prefer to write a note on nice stationery, but my family members would be hurt if they didn't get the *&^% Hallmark card! They think it shows how much I care that I went to a store & lovingly picked out just the right card for them. Miss Manners has said that store-bought cards are a rude cop-out. That the *proper* way to send birthday greetings is to write a letter on your stationery, in your own hand. I'm sorry there are bigger problems, Sue. I can see my DH perhaps focusing on the "in your arms forever" and thinking that's sweet without being cloying, and not really focusing on the other stuff. I can sort of understand that it might not occur to him that people might buy an anniversary card for some OTHER couple's marriage. I also think it's weird for OTHER people to send anniversary cards. I consider my anniversary to be between me and DH. Maybe it's the kids' business. But i have always thought it was weird to get a "happy anniversary" card from random aunts and uncle. And I think it's weird to go to my in-laws for a dinner to celebrate my anniversary every year. The big ones, yes. The 4th anniversary? Butt out. (I did have to say quite sternly that ON our anniversary, we are not available; it is OUR time, and we are not including his parents in our marriage, they are NOT invited. Though I did finally give up on the idea of celebrating it in general with them, and we try to get over there for dinner sometime near our wedding date, but I try to ignore the anniversary aspect as much as I can. It just feels like a private celebration.)

It's not hokey at all! I sign our entire family on cards (including the furkids) If you still think it's hokey read on... I work for a vet and about 3 years ago we had a lady come in to leave her dog for daycare. The husband was dying of cancer and they had come back to let him be with his family. The dog, Max, was wonderful. Everyone loved him and he was super sweet and smart. I began talking with the lady when she came in and one day she told me they had just celebrated DH birthday a couple of months ago and she hoped he would hold on for 3 more days because it would be their anniversary. They were both in their early 50's and had only been married a few years and she said it would mean so much to both of them if they could celebrate one more year. Sadly, she came in the next day to leave Max with us and told me DH passed away early that morning. I went on my lunch and bought a sympathy card from our practice and then I bought a Happy Anniversary card. I filled out the Anniversary card from Max to his "mom" It was started off that "dad" told him to make sure he told her Happy Anniversary, and to tell her how much he loved her and was fortunate to have such a wonderful marriage with a loving and caring person. I rubbed Max's paw with ink and stamped the card. I put it in his tote bag, she never checked it. She picked Max up on their anniversary, and she was just devastated by her loss. She was on her way back home and thanked us for caring for Max. She left and about 30 minutes later she came back, she had stopped to get gas and checked his tote bag to make sure he had everything and found the card. She was crying happy tears and said that was the most thoughtful thing "Max" had ever done for her. She wanted my address, a few weeks later I received a thank you card and wonderful pictures of both of them. *moral of this story...hokey as it may seem, it may be the world to someone else*

Thank you for all the wonderful compliments âÂÂSeaEscape 1â makes me smile every time I see it. Especially since it is 2 degrees outside now, and tonightâÂÂs low will be -15 degrees with an 80% chance of more snow. We live on Sylvan Lake in Northern Indiana (which is frozen; the ice is 10â thick), but a lake is just not the same as an ocean beach! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susan.griebel.5

I like to avoid using the post office whenever possible. Cards were never a big thing with me. I guess I agree with my dad when he said he liked when someone would write something on the cards. I figure the ones that send cards just for the sake of sending cards are doing it for themselves, not the recipients. Getting a printed card that says "Happy Thanksgiving" and nothing more, to me, why bother? If I don't hear from someone for a long time and they're contacting me, I feel they should either have a reason for the contact. If it's to just say hello, great, but why not just say it? A few lines on how they've been is appreciated. Seems like a waste of money, time for both of us, natural resources and landfill/recycling. Some want to count the cards they get. There's the obligation of "I sent a card so I'd better get one" and "I got a card, now I have to send one". To me they're GREETING cards, not obligation cards. Seems the whole intention of them has changed. I used to send cards during the holidays sometime when I wanted to keep in contact with distant relatives and friends with whom I have little contact. But unlike many, the older I get, the less I appreciate the card business. I know a lot of people like getting (and/or sending) cards. Gives me no thrill. I do intend to send one card this Christmas and that's to one of my surgeons and his staff who went so out of their way so many times to be helpful and because they cared. I want to let them know things are going well and their efforts and talents were appreciated.