Tannishblog

Who invented the paper greeting card? Greeting cards evolved from postcards and came into thier own in the ninteenth century. John Calcott Horsely is credited with creating the first Christmas cards in England starting in the year 1817. More history can be found here.

My dauther and I dutifully trekked to the local Hallmark shop this evening for our obligatory Mother’s Day cards and for my wifes birthday cards (also this month). I am struck - as I always am - by the lameness and sheer banality of the selection of cards for wives. My first impression goes something like this: For two hundred years this tradition has grown and this is the best they can make? Then I start figuring how this is big business. They write this rubbish because it sells. It must sell, or they wouldn’t persist. this thought leads to the state of the art of Husbanding: What kind of men would buy a card like this:

Front Message:
For my wife on Mother’s Day How can I find the words to tell you what you mean to me?
Inside Message:
Without your help I can’t even find my socks! Happy Mother’s Day!

C’mon guys! I bet you can find the remote. Try doing the laundry, then you’ll find your socks. Men like this are the reason there is a whole genre of men-bashing humor circulating in amils worldwide.

Here’s another fun example: bland and emotionless.

Front Message:
For my wife
Inside Message:
Together we have fun…friendship, understanding, and so much more. Because with you, I have everything a man could ever want. Happy Mother’s Day

Ah, yes. Heartfelt sentiment from the un-fairer sex.

For My Wife (I’ll remember your name soon)
Toghether we have fun… (we must have, there are children underfoot.) friendship(with other people), understanding (sort of), and so much more (so many damn bills, so much noise, so many leftovers). Because with you, I have everything a man could ever want (to rid himself of). Happy Mothers Day. (Remember: Father’s Day is next month, and I want a Plasma TV)

FYI: I bought a blank card into which I will print out a poem of my creation (my handwriting - or should I say hand-lefting - isn’t so great) that will - if not dazzle, at least make her laugh. She won’t chuck it into a drawer and forget about it because I created something unique just for her. My Loving Wife. Whatever Her Name Is…..