Send a Card to a Friend Day

Typical Display
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By Diane Forrest,

Every year during all the holidays I had a great aunt who would always send greeting cards.  I always thought how great it was that she remembered us during those times.  When I got married, my husband would occasionally pick up a card when he went shopping...just because.  When my aunt's husband passed away she began sending cards to my husband.  By that time he had been injured, and was not able to get out.  Those cards were so special to him, made him realize that someone had been thinking of him, and that was the best feeling in the world.

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While I was grateful to my aunt for making my husband's day brighter, there was also a bit of guilt there.  I had never been a card person.  I love getting them, but have always been on the bad side of sending them.  When my son started college, I would try to find some "Thinking of You" cards, and then I had to send some to my stepsons too.  There were also the birthday cards, holiday cards and get well cards too.

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I did get better with the wonderful invention of email cards.  I was able to send cards to all my friends and family regularly with just a click of the mouse.  However some of my family members do not have email, so they got neglected.

It was not until my husband passed away a year ago, that I had for the first time spare time on my hands.  When the time came to write thank you notes for the flowers, memorial gifts, food and visits after my husband's death, I couldn't find anything appropriate.  The funeral home supplied me with those little cards. Where you write in the name, but since my handwriting is atrocious, I decided to try my hand at making a card, and typing my sentiments.  It wasn't as hard as I thought, and the results were fantastic.  After that I decided to try my hand at more cards.  I made Valentines, Mardi Gras, Easter, Memorial Day and July 4th cards, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Each time improving on the design and adding ribbons, lace and vellum paper.  Now I can send friends and relatives handmade cards to let them know that I am thinking of them, without spending a fortune, and who doesn't like getting something in the mail besides bills?

Today is Send a Card to a Friend Day.  Greeting cards can be traced back to the 15th century.  The Chinese would hand deliver congratulations on the Chinese New Year, and the Egyptians would deliver handwritten sentiments on scrolls of papyrus.  In the early to mid-15th century, Europe started sending Valentines; the oldest is on display in the British museum.  By the 1850's greeting cards were relatively inexpensive to make, and the introduction of the postage stamp made it easy to send greetings.  Today there are many types of cards available.  From a simple post card to a musical card to an electronic card, the sender has a wide choice.

So today, send a greeting card, and brighten the day of someone you know.

Here are some good web sites (Google list over 36M hits):

Blue Mountain http://www.bluemountain.com/

Hallmark http://www.hallmark.com/online/?mc=T_S_G_ED_HM_BRAND_MAIN&gclid=CKa5kcbSia4CFYeK4Aod9yc45w

American Greetings http://www.americangreetings.com

123Greetings http://www.123greetings.com/ 

Pacprod http://www.pacprod.com/

Let them know...

Today we celebrate Friendship Day.  This day was initially started by the greeting card companies as a way to sell cards.  I mean...August is a slow month...no holidays, and No Monday's off for government employees.    It's the end of summer and the beginning of school, so we needed something to perk up the month.  This is a pretty new occasion, in fact, on April 27, 2011, The General Assembly of the United Nation declared July 30 as official International Friendship Day.

Friendship Day was originally promoted by Joyce Hall, the founder of Hallmark Cards in 1919, and intended on first Sunday of August to be a day where people celebrated their friendships by sending cards. The first Sunday in August was chosen as the center of the largest lull in holiday celebrations.  By the 1940's people stopped sending friendship cards, because they realized it was just a gimmick promoted by the greeting card companies.

However, other countries also promoted Friendship Day, and they still keep the holiday active.  In fact, in 1998, Winnie the Pooh was named the ambassador for Friendship Day for the United Nations.

Many people exchange greeting cards and friendship bracelets.  With the wide spread use of social networks, the day has become more and more popular.  When my husband was in the hospital, my cousin's little girl and her friend made him a friendship bracelet of many different colors.  He loved that bracelet so much, because of the thought behind it and the work they put into it, that he never took it off.

So today, on Friendship day, take a few moments to let your friends know that you are thinking of them, and how much their friendship means to you.  You don't have to buy fancy cards or gifts (however chocolate is always appreciated).  You can send a text, email or just call and sing this song:

You've Got a Friend

by:  Carole King

When you're down and troubled

and you need a helping hand

and nothing, whoa nothing is going right.

Close your eyes and think of me

and soon I will be there

to brighten up even your darkest nights.

You just call out my name,

and you know wherever I am

I'll come running, oh yeah baby

to see you again.

Winter, spring, summer, or fall,

all you have to do is call

and I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.

You've got a friend.

If the sky above you

should turn dark and full of clouds

and that old north wind should begin to blow

Keep your head together and call my name out loud

and soon I will be knocking upon your door.

You just call out my name and you know wherever I am

I'll come running to see you again.

Winter, spring, summer or fall

all you got to do is call

and I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Hey, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend?

People can be so cold.

They'll hurt you and desert you.

Well they'll take your soul if you let them.

Oh yeah, but don't you let them.

You just call out my name and you know wherever I am

I'll come running to see you again.

Oh babe, don't you know that,

Winter spring summer or fall,

Hey now, all you've got to do is call.

Lord, I'll be there, yes I will.

You've got a friend.

You've got a friend.

Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.

Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.

You've got a friend.