The "I't's All In The Cards" Story

It was an ordinary day. Sitting at a long work table at the Parish Resource Center (PRC) with some kind of brush that has liquid in the handle, sealing envelopes. I am the next to last in a line of volunteers that are working on a mailing for the PRC's annual appeal for donations. Next to me, the last in line who is putting postage on the envelopes I am sealing, is Debbie. Debbie works with my wife at the PRC as well as working at a local CVS Drug Store on Prince Street in Lancaster city. She works two mornings a week keeping the greeting cards current and in order. Big task, evidently. She told me that as soon as one season ends, a new one starts. New Year's cards turn into Martin Luther King cards turn into Valentine's Day cards turn into St. Patrick's Day cards turn into Easter cards and so on. Never a dull moment. That, plus the cards that stay up all year such as birthday cards,get well cards, wedding cards, anniversary cards and so on. I asked her about the customers like me who pick one card, then decide on another one, forgot where they got the first one, and put it anywhere, even in another company's section. Yep, she has to figure where they go, also. That's why it takes two days a week. But, you do get to read all the cards and when you need one for yourself to give, you can pick the very best. Then we talked about the article that was in the paper a week or so ago titled "A World without Hallmark." Journalist Jonathan Bender tried to imagine Valentine's Day without Hallmark Cards. Next year Hallmark will celebrate their 100thAnniversary. Wow, have to remember to send them e-card greeting wishing them a happy anniversary. See, that's why Jonathan wonders about the existence of the greeting card company. In an era of social media, e-cards and text messages, do we still care enough to send the very best? In a drawer behind me in my desk are nine cards, sitting ready to mail, once I decide who to mail them to. Seven of them are Hallmark cards. Five are birthday cards, two are get well cards, one a 'Thinking of You' card and the last one, a mother's day card. Now the mother's day card is, needless to say, for my mother, while the rest are kind of generic and can go to anyone. When I shop at the grocery store and pass the card section, I sometimes look at them and will buy one or two for future use. I know I may be in the minority with the hoarding of greeting cards, but I think they are neat. I love to get cards and so I figure others do to, so I stock up on them. This year on Valentine's Day, 160 million greeting cards were purchased. Sounds like a lot, but the number is declining. In 1995, 2.7 billion Christmas cards were sent while this past Christmas only 1.5 billion were sent. Almost half the amount in only a 15 year span. I know that the postage is a major reason for the decline in greeting cards, but so is the computer and phone. To compensate, Hallmark has added 3-D cards and audio cards. I must admit I have bought and received a few audio cards, but I think they are just a novelty. No one ever reads the words on the card and the song sounds so crummy and you only get maybe one verse of the song. Still prefer the kind of card that when you stop at the card section at the store and start to read them, tears start to flow. Figure that if I start to cry while reading a card for my wife, she will need a bucket. Now that's sentimental!! A card is not just a piece of paper with printing and a pix on it, or even something that is funny or emotional, it tells the person that I send it to that I made an effort to stand at the card section, read the cards, even shed a few tears, and care enough to buy the very best. Can't do that while sitting at a computer searching for a card that you can send with a push of a key. Hallmark employs more than 3,700 people at their plant in Kansas City, MO. The company has more than 2,800 retail operations and sells cards at more than 40,000 locations. Can't imagine what those people would do if we don't buy their cards anymore. Hey, there are times when you can't tell someone exactly how you feel, but as you scan the cards at the store, you find just the right words. Without the crutch of that greeting card, we may never express the words and thoughts as well as someone working in Missouri has written for us. I hope, in my lifetime, to never be without the paper greeting card. Don't want to think that my wife will never get a card to console her when I am gone. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - top photo shows the Valentine's cards my wife and I exchanged this year.