From my parents, they sent two cards:
I’ve mentioned before in this blog that my mother is a huge underliner in cards. I’m going to mark up this rendition so that you can see it for yourself. When a word is underlined like this, that means she underlined the word once. When it’s like this(2), that means she underlined the word twice; like this(3), three times; you get the gist.
| Card Front: For You, Son. With Love and Pride On Your Birthday.
Card Inside: Dear John. A son(2) like you brings(2) a special(2) kind of pride(3)—in the kind of person(2) you’ve(2) always(2) been(2) and, as you’ve grown(2), in the wonderful(4) man(4) you’ve(4) become(4). A son(2) like you(2) brings(2) so(3) much(3) happiness(3) to(3) life(3). Hope(2) you(2) know(2) how(2) much(2) you’re(2) appreciated(2) and(2), most(2) of(2) all(2), hope(2) you(2) know(2) how(2) much(2) you’re(4) loved(7). Happy Birthday Handwritten Sentiments: Much Love, Mom & Dad. Celebrate the big “50(2)“!!! A package on the way!! Yum-yum! |
The first card came in the mail. This second card came in the package with the “Yum-yums.”
| Card Front: At 50 you know stuff. You’ve done stuff. You’ve dealt with stuff.
Card Inside: Now get out there and strut your stuff! Sentiments: Happy Birthday. Much love(2) and have a great(2) day(2)!! |
From my sister and brother-in-law:
| Card Front: Two sides of a long card folded in, so a split down the middle. A half a cake is on each side of the slit so, together, it looks like one normal-sized cake.
Card Inside: [Pull the flaps out to make a long card, which elongates the cake to accommodate a gazillion candles.] Would you like some cake with your candles? Happy Birthday. Sentiments: John, this card really made me think of you—want some bread with that buttah? Want some DC with your CC? LOL!! I hope you had an amazing(2) time in Australia. I can’t wait to hear & read all about it! Love Vivian & Jeff. I’m so glad that you have another year on earth and that you are my BROTHER!! |
From my friend Joe:
| Card Front: Picture of 5 dogs, each on their hind legs, with their front paws on the back of the one in front of them. The one in the front has his front paws up on a keg that they’re all contributing towards rolling.
Card Inside: Like we need an excuse! Happy Birthday. Sentiments: Wishing you 50 more! Thanks for being part of my life! Looking forward to celebrating when you get back. Love ya, Joe P.S. Cocktails!!! |
From my friend aunt’s sister and her husband:
| Card Front: 50 You are now in your 50s, so why not take stock of your decade of birth when they rocked round the clock, when Ed Sullivan cooked and Bill Haley was cool and when Elvis as King taught how not to be cruel…
Card Inside: When girdles and poodle skirts suited the girls who dressed like June Cleaver in high heels and pearls, when the hula hoops twirled and the films were 3-D and when Lassie and Lucy were first on TV… There were fabulous firsts in the ’50s, it’s true—that’s including the birthday of fabulous you! Happy Birthday. Sentiments: Have a great day. Bob and Lu Desmarais |
From my friend Mary:
| Card Front: 10 10 10 10 10
Card Inside: Dear John, You make 50 look like perfect 10’s! Happy Birthday. Sentiments: Congratulations on half a century! Have a great day! Love, Mary |
From my aunt, uncle, and cousin:
| Card Front: 50 & You! You’ve kept your vitality, your cool personality, your excellent bladder control! You’re still kicking ass, and you kick it with class…
Card Inside: Wow, fifty’s NOT taking a toll! Sentiments: Dear John, Wow, can you believe that you’re going to be the big 5-0? Hope you have a great party. I’m sure you will. Miss & love you all. Love, Aunt Terri, Uncle Dennis, and Cynda (over) Back of card: There is a picture of a toll booth, with the number 50 emblazoned above it, and a bubble indicating that the toll booth operator is saying, “Go on through.” |
From my friend Kathy in Texas:
| Card Front: Where did the years go?
Card Inside: Over the hill comes to mind. Happy Birthday!! Sentiments: ha ha ha… Hope you have a great birthday! Enjoy your trip!! Always(too), Kathy |
From my friends Ben and Dale:
| Card Front: On your birthday, remember… (picture of a fork stuck into the bottom of a cake, which has one candle on it) time is an illusion…
Card Inside: …but cake is real. Have a great one! Sentiments: Happy 50th! Have a wonderful time Down Under. Dale, Ben |
From my niece:
| Card Front: It’s not the age—
Card Inside: It’s the attitude! (music plays upon opening the card) Sentiments: Happy Birthday Uncle John! Hope your day is excellent! Love, Meagan |
And from my sweetie, presented to me just as my Bloody Mary arrived when we finally got on the flight from San Francisco to Sydney:
| Card Front: Alcohol! (picture of a floozy of a woman, winking, with a drink in her hand and a party hat on, who actually, frighteningly—and Robert had no way of knowing this—looks a lot like my mother when she was younger)
Card Inside: …Nature’s Preservative. Cheers, and Happy Birthday!! Sentiments: Along the same lines as “man’s natural habitat.” To one of the most beautiful people I know. May this adventure be a real milestone. All my love, Robert & “Mary” (with an arrow pointing to that drinking woman on the cover reproduced in a small square in the bottom corner of the inside of the card) |