I had a birthday recently, not a particularly significant one, but hey, at this stage of life they are all milestones, or is that millstones? It is a bit of a cliché to reflect on the sappiness of Hallmark style greeting card messages, but recently I have been exposed to a number of cards which impressed me with their creativity. Not being bashful about passing on the wisdom of others, following are a few examples which stood out.

Top of the list, and the impetus for this article, was a personalized card by a talented local artist and occasional Beacon contributor. Her drawing captured beautifully the pivotal moment each month when I sit at my desk contemplating ideas for a new article (my challenge is seldom finding ideas, but rather selecting from them).

May you always have the right inspirations! Joanne Boughner

Another friend sent a wonderful photo he had taken of old Matlacha with the poignant caption “What used to B”. My wife Diane also uses her original art for greeting cards which we share with others.

The cards seemed to come with several different recurring themes. There were the cute dog and critter cards:

• Pooch hanging out a car window, sunglasses on, tongue out  – Hope you have a sun-in-your-face, wind-in-your-hair kind of day
• Bulldog riding a scooter – Let the good times roll
• Impossibly cute dog with birthday hat, cake and candles – You’re doggone special!
• A hungry looking rodent at one end of a maze with birthday cake at the other end – Hope your Birthday’s A-MAZE-ING

Then there were the health related messages, some perhaps hitting too close to home:

• Now when I walk around the house and there’s a creak I assume it’s my body and not the house
• On your Birthday don’t let society tell you what people your age can and can’t do – That’s what your knees are for
• Old enough to know better, young enough to not give a shit
• It’s your birthday – Try not to do anything too responsible!

Humor and alcohol were popular topics:

• It’s your birthday. Let there be NO BEER left behind! It’s your duty! Have the happiest birthday BEER can buy. 
• A school of fish, a gaggle of geese, a pride of lions. How would I describe your birthday – A shitload of candles!
• This is Gutnis – He walked over 15,000 miles from Siberia to give you birthday wishes. Gutnis suffered from exhaustion, frostbite, blisters and poor cell reception, but he made it. So please have a Happy Birthday, for Gutnis’ sake.
• To find happiness on your birthday, seek inner peace. Better yet, seek the corner piece – it’s the one with the most frosting!
• One card came with a detachable “Pairs well with wine” button

Some cards bordered on origami art. A pop-up octopus hand-labeled Oscar with eight moveable legs was described as “four hugs in one envelope”. A flip-out balloon became a half sphere, while another card had 3D paper sunglasses, flip flops, Hawaiian shirt and cool drink attached.

There were cards with sentimental messages which warmed my soul and of course several beautiful images of boats. One favorite consisted of an image sewn with thread of a fisherman in his boat with a fish swimming below.

I’ll leave you with this message from one of the cards which I hope you will all take to heart – Set sail on another great year!

Published in the March 2023 BSM Beacon.