Greeting Cards Matter
Those who know me, know well my 20+ year infatuation with greeting cards. I pumped them out like postage stamps.
Mo’s Art started in 1995 and lasted until 2015 where I did a wide range of art related activities, but always came back to cards. I always believed a special heartfelt word or image was a golden apple in a setting of silver. I wanted to encourage others of that heart language. ‘Flavia’ cards (for those who remember) just started when I was in printing college in the 80’s (are still around) and made a terrific impression.
In the end Mo's Art produced probably 500 images, 100 of which were my ‘best sellers’ and I’m sure you’ve all received at least one. With a heavy heart I gave away the last of my ‘sample set’ a month ago, but the reason I write this is to tell you about what happened next that capped off the end of an era so beautifully.
In the following two weeks I received six cards from very obscure unexpected sources, and for very diverse reasons but were so heartfelt, it affirmed everything I believed. Let me describe them.
The first one was from R whom I invited into our ladies Bible study and turned out to be a very good fit, now an integral member. I had sent her Hope for a Christmas and she sent back this lengthy endearing card and wrote inside ‘and every word is true’ together with a cheque saying that she’d like to buy my book.
Next I received a little thank you from the loud lady I had difficulties with in the dining room six months ago. Not that she was doing anything wrong, just her persona is very loud and I found it extremely disruptive during my mealtime. A couple months later, after we worked it out, I invited her to something I thought might be of interest given her background. She slipped a thank you card in my post saying no thank you but was touched I thought of her. Not bad for a ‘foe.’
The third card is from UNICEF. At Christmas I found out they had various-sized gifts of vaccine packages to Third World countries. I purchased a small package myself but didn’t tick the gift-card-needed box. I had even forgotten I had done that until a blank gift card arrived saying a donation was made in my name. It arrived on Valentine’s Day.
The handmade postcard on the TV is from an art friend who took over my classes at the Surrey Art Gallery. A. underwent a double lung transplant last February and spent months in hospital. I asked for her address to get a greeting to her and hand painted a get well monkey card (A. was famous for her monkey broaches - the whole crowd received one one year). I debated, but popped in the Lord’s Prayer bookmark at the last minute. At the same time I heard her partner was having tough time so sent him the same thing - a card and a bookmark. Neither was ever mentioned again and I figured I crossed the secular line making a note not to do it again. However this postcard with tiny writing arrived, signed from 'Miracle A.' The note said it had been exactly one year since her surgery and a bit of her gruelling ordeal, but mostly to say how wonderful it was to receive a monkey card out of the blue.
The Valentine was from my step-in Mom. We met years ago at a horrific time in her life. I had her over to lunch to help ease her pain and she said to me that day ‘I think we’re going to become good friends for a long time.’ From there we shared many tears, laughter and intimate conversations over seventeen years. When she died last fall I wired flowers to her daughter and had them write on the card ‘Thank you for sharing.’ I never heard anything back until I received a Valentine six months later wishing me a Happy Valentine’s Day.
Lastly, the cheerful spring card is from a dear friend in another town. I called to admit something I had done I knew hurt her and to apologize. But she told me it didn’t matter - she loves who she loves and nothing changes that, and we both had a good cry. Then I received this bright lovely image of a birdhouse and chick-a-dee (she knows I'm into song birds) wishing me a good day.
All received within two weeks after I sent out my last batch of stock. I was still moved by the last one when another arrived. It was a lovely way to end an era that affirmed my original idea that a simple card can make an impact.
Down to the dregs in my sample box, the worst sellers, I lamented the thought of having to buy $8 Hallmark cards, but the story doesn’t end there.
My last job before having to give up work altogether was overseeing a high functioning special needs gal in her small housecleaning business. I noticed some of the photos she snapped would make amazing cards and introduced her to the idea. I think the initial batch flopped and never heard more. Then life happened - I moved away, Covid came, MS got worse, and we lost touch. Until last week. On a whim I sent her a birthday card and today in my mail box were two dozen of her cards very professionally printed in two different sizes thanking me for the idea.
Boy did that fill up the coffers of my heart, not only the empty box. And gave me warm willies of being able to support her new-found passion instead of Hallmark.
Now if that’s not a perfect end to an era, I don't know what is.
Comments