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Birthday cards
I have always liked birthday cards almost more than presents but especially as I have got older. It is disappointing to me to be told by members of the younger generation (in their 30s, that their generation don’t see the point of cards as you can say ‘Happy birthday’ via social media.
I actually think that misses the point. Sending a card involves so much more than clicking onto facebook or other social media sites. The date has to be remembered and the card bought, this involves choosing one suitable for the recipient, whether with or without appropriate words. Then the card has to be written, a stamp purchased and the card posted. OK that can be time consuming but the recipient knows that this was done out of respect and/or love for them, it is a good feeling to receive a card that has obviously been especially chosen.
I was reminded of this on my recent birthday when I was lucky enough to get a good number of lovely cards from friends and relatives. But my cards arrived over several days from about the week before. This has to be done to ensure they are received on time. However, I was remembering when I was a child and a teenager waiting on my actual birthday (as long as it was not a Sunday), for the morning post. Yes there was a morning and a mid-day post then of course. And when the post came and there was a loud noise of a lot of post pushed through the letter box I would rush to pick it up, all the cards arriving at once. It was exciting. Probably more so because in those days presents of postal orders or cash would be in some of the cards, or maybe a book token. Children nowadays don’t get this excitement. I suppose they don’t miss what they never had but it is a shame.
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quite so, Ann , it isn't the same as when we were younger...I DO find it difficult to keep up with dates, as the family gathers more infants....
we all , I think live in our own cocoons, only venturing out when something important is occurring.
such as, our 62nd anniversary is nigh.....and one of our grandaughters has, coincidentally chosen that date for her own wedding...
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Well you won't forget that date and if you ask on here I will be able to remind you.
:-)
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Our nearest postbox is collected around 9 in the morning. So one has to be well prepared when sending time sensitive post.
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I agree Ann.
I enjoy choosing cards for people and receiving them too but sadly even some of my friends have taken to whattsapping instead of sending a card which I dont like.
It's cheapskating! Don't have to buy a card, pay for a stamp.
Yes when we were young, the day of our birthday, I do remember lots of cards dropping through the letterbox and I had to wait until i came home from school to open them.
Xmas cards too have dwindled with excuses like, too expensive or I would rather donate to charity!
I do allow a few days extra even for 1st class as they rarely arrive the next day now.
Nowadays, I think if kids get less than £20 in a card, they are so disappointed arent they. personally I believe they get so much all year round whereas we didn't.
Birthdays were a big deal. A postal order for 10/ or £1.00 was a huge a mount of money.
Being able to spend vouchers in boots or superdrug for £1 or £2 if you were lucky was such a great thing and you could buy lots too then.
Im really not in favour of ecards very much either. You can't keep them.
I keep all family cards from the previous year until I receive a new one . So I have mums xmas and birthday cards from last year and shall keep them.
Florence in the hebrides
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I do agree with you Ann and Florence. Every year my numbers dwindle, whether birthday or Christmas cards. Many friends and relatives have passed away but those still here who don’t seem to bother as much either.
This last birthday was my 75th. An old school friend from 1959 has her birthday a week before mine. Every year I send her a card and this year got a special 75 one. More than a week later I received a notelet type card from her saying Sorry I forgot to post this in time!
My partner’s son and family never send specific cards to him or me! Just run of the mill cards that look as tho they might come from a bundle. You only have one Dad and the son could make a better effort to get a nicely worded card - his Dad’s done his best for the son all his life and always sends a Son card for his special day.
Likewise he makes a special effort to get cards for his grandchildren, choosing appropriate gender cards and adding colourful stick on ages and names. Due to distance and knowing they have far too many toys etc we send money to their Mum’s account to be given on the day. We never get a call saying thank you unless I make a point of messaging their Mum and often it’s just her saying ‘thanks for … card’
Luckily I taught my son from an early age that it’s not the picture that counts, it’s the words inside and his choice of cards for me never fail to get me emotional lol
Lizxx
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Why sweat it?
We just had our 55th anniversary last Thursday, didn't get any cards.
We've only had 1 or 2 cards on our birthdays for several years, and Christmas cards are down as well.
Why?? All our relations our age have died, and nieces and nephews are busy living their own lives. We send them cards on their birthdays and anniversaries, because we are now the seniors of the family. e also send b'day cards and a cheque to the 6 "greats", and get thank yous back from them .............. so all are being raised well.
It doesn't bother either of us, because we know how very busy everyone is these days, and they do phone occasionally.
We do still have lots of friends around the world, but they have only sent Christmas cards. Many of them have gone to the emailed letter as we've all become computer literate. We do the same thing ............... for the same reasons, it's fast, and to be honest, much cheaper.
We stopped buying cards several years ago when we discovered that we were spending over $200 (over ca 150 pounds) when buying charity cards, postage overseas was nearly $300 (around ca 250 pounds), and the cards were often not arriving. We were sending cards and letters to well over 100 people at the time.
Now we communicate by email.
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each to their own Sylvia if it doesn't bother you that is fine.
Liz, that is a shame about the friend the same age, I suppose at least you did hear from her in the end.
I suspect now that people might find the cost one of the things that has to go with people having to budget more. Which is a shame.
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