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Valentine's Day
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RSS FeedValentine's Day: Is a homemade card more thoughtful than a bought one?
Results so far:
| Yes | 82% | 198 votes | Total: 242 votes | |
| No | 18% | 44 votes |
Yes
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Add to FavoritesAt the foot of my bed sits a large trunk that I acquired many years ago. It has been painted and repainted to suit its placement in the room of my choosing. Its' leather handles are worn and the inside smells musty as a result of its years, but it is the most precious possession that I own.
Inside this ancient portmanteau lies the history of more than 250 years. The baby shawl (that I had wrapped each of my children in before their journey home from the hospital) is neatly wrapped in clear plastic and sitting atop the many years of memories held inside. There are the flowers, neatly packed, from each of my daughters' weddings, and photos of the devastating fire that took our family home when I was only eight. It carries the good and the bad, but is a memorial to the many lives that it honors.
Among the many things that occupy this chest are cards, and lots of them. There are Christmas cards, Birthday cards, Mother's Day Cards, and Valentine's Day cards. Many of them were purchased, but the inscriptions on them are far too precious to ever part with. There are none so precious, however, as the ones that are made up of mere pieces of cardboard or folded up paper. The handwriting is scrawled, indicative of the time that they were handcrafted. On one is an outline of a tiny hand, while another bears the resemblance of a house with a family standing beside to it. And each and every one says, "I love you, Mom."
People are too busy today to take the time to recognize the things in life that matter most. My son travels a great deal, so his girlfriend has become his secretary. She has become quite adept at signing his name, but one can see the difference. My daughters have come to the point in lives where they feel that a phone call is more personable. They couldn't be more wrong. There such a feeling of admiration that pours out from those handmade cards that no phone call could begin to compete with, and it would be wonderful to be able to turn back the clock (for just one day) to experience it again.
My trunk has traveled fourteen states with me, and is now my closest friend since all of my children moved away. It now holds the beginning of a whole new generation. There are new babies, new events and new catastrophes to record. And although the miles between us are many, I can always turn to my friend at the foot of my bed and hold life's treasures in my hand. Because a mother never throws away anything that was made with love.
Learn more about this author, Tara Rijon.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
No
Not everyone desires to make a Valentine's Day
card. For those who don't have that knack, but
still desire to express their love, a card which
expresses more closely the sentiments of the giver
is perfect. It's not how the card was made, but
whether the card is given, letting one know that
he/she is thought of on this holiday.
Because Valentine's Day cards come in such a
variety, there is really no reason to forge ahead
and create a homemade card. Children often make
cards in school. For them, this is an experience
whereby they can let their parents know they love
them - hand prints, footprints and all. Those
are cute and cherished not matter when given.
However, adults can take just a few minutes and
select a thoughtful card which will represent them
and convey as strong a feeling as they want.
In today's world, just the thought of being
thought of or appreciated will do. I have seen
gigantic cards sitting in one's living room. To
me they attracted attention, but I did not feel it
was any more well meant than the smaller cards on
the mantel or table. Usually the larger card, to
me, seemed ostentatious, and the message inside
of was rather generic and less personal.
There are also cards which are produced on computers.
Though nice, they seem to lack in vividness and
color. The message may be original, but the
whole card, seems to be a substitute for a
store bought one. I really would not like to
receive a lot of computer generated cards. How about
you?
The principle motive is love. Whether it be
love in the homemade card, or love in the one
purchased at the store, it all spells the same
thing. And we, the people who hold this view,
are thankful that someone came up with the idea
of making cards for every occasion. We have been
saved and blessed by the companies who have
produced them giving us such a wide range of
options to chose from. Since cards express unique
personalities, we do find the "almost perfect" ones
that convey the degree of abiding love we feel and
chose to share.
Learn more about this author, Toni Doswell.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
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