I'm talking about birthday cards! I got a lot of cute, funny or schmaltzy birthday cards in the last few weeks. But, I'm always stumped about what to do with them after the event has passed.Should I save them for posterity?
OK, let's be reasonable--who is going to want them? I mean really!
Will I spend my declining years rereading them and reliving the past?
I sincerely hope that I don't turn into a sentimental old fool with nothing better to do!
Should I save them, just in case?
I am the kind of person who does that. I'm excessively burdened with boxes of stuff I saved "just in case". In fact, I have an email folder with that label. When does a person actually have a reason to use stuff they saved "just in case"? It is probably a fraction of 1%, if that!
Should I throw all of them away?
I can do that! I've done it before..., and I can do it again..., I guess. After all, I can't imagine a situation where someone will ask me it I still have the card they gave me for my 70th birthday.
So, why do I feel so darn guilty about it?
17 comments:
I think that bottom "card," is hilarious, in a recognizable sort of way. I once bought old Christmas cards at an antique shop and re-sent them with my name signed alongside the original sender, sometimes from fifty plus years ago. Old Christmas cards are especialy pretty and I like the idea of reusing, so maybe you could start a new trend with birthday cards as well. Pass the appropriate ones along to others, who know they're being recycled. Save a tree, recycle greeting cards. It's an over-emphasized "industry" anyway, imo. I hope you had a wonderful birthday!
I save cards from my kids and my mom who is 93. I want to see her handwriting in years to come.
Well, let's see, your birthday isn't over for at least another three weeks. So keep them on display for a while. After that, save a couple of favorites and recycle the rest. Unless you can think of a craft project... oh wait, that's my reason for keeping way too much stuff. :-) Continued Happy Birthday!
You go to Ax Man, but a couple sheets of magnets (the kind you can put on the fridge). You take the cutest of the cards, glue them to the magnets and cut them out as best you can.
Voila! The world's silliest kitchen magnets! (Found some really retro cards -- from the 40s and 50s -- in pretty good shape last year at a garage sale and made fridge magnets for my friends. It was a huge hit.)
Pearl
Keep them if you wish, Ms. Sparrow.
Another way to "keep" them in a way is to take all cards you get in a year (including XMas), place in a large baggie, and then bring to a Salvation Army or junk shop. A lot of people would actually want to buy them. Pack-rat ephemera fanatics.
I feel guilty about throwing anything away. It just seems that most things can serve another purpose....like I make gift tags out of Christmas cards. You could do that. Cut out the funny or cute pictures and punch a hole in the end, tie on a ribbon and you have a gift tag the next time you need one.
When my mother died three years ago my brother and I cleaned out her house. She had saved every, and I mean every, card and letter she ever received. We've enjoyed reading some of the letters that we had written her and some of the cards we had made when we were children, but most of the stuff went right into the trash.
If it brings you joy to read and reread them keep them. If not, toss them after a few weeks.
After cleaning out my mother's stuff both my brother and I vowed not to leave the same task to our children. I'm still a work in progress, but I have really gotten rid of a lot of stuff that was just stuff and not a significant memory.
I'm a pack rat too. I could have sworn I got rid of all my gardening books when we moved to Florida and now Gary is telling me there are boxes and boxes of them. We are planning on having a big garage sale. I'm better than I used to be, but there have been things I threw away and now wish I had mostly mixed media stuff for art.
I put my favourite cards under the glass on a glass topped cupboard in my little 'office'and the rest I keep on display for a week and then recycle ! I have a card from my mum and one from my husband-both sadly departed many years ago and I get comfort from seeing their writing and reading their messages.I'm glad I kept them !
Well, Ms Sparrow, I think we're in the same birthday cycle. Personally, I think you should do whatever warms your heart. I keep mine for awhile then shred them. However, I do have a 'friends folder' which I periodically update with a saved card and so on but keep it lean. My hub's parents were pack rats. What a mess it was to sort thru their things...they had saved everything...so much stuff it all blurred.
Ohhhh, Ms Sparrow, I didn't wish you a Happy Birthday...I'm sorry! Hope you had a wonderful day.
Believe it or not, I just put a bunch of old Christmas and birthday cards into the recycling. But I love Teresa's suggestion of buying old cards and re-sending them! I have a friend who, with his brother, send each other the same card year after year. I got a kick out of that.
One good option is to invite small kids to select and take away cards that they want. They can use it for cutting out the pictures and using it for their project work/craft work in school.
I trust you're well and doing fine and just taking a break. I wanted you to know, I miss seeing your updates, but no pressure, just sayin'.... :)
Hello Ms Sparrow,
Where are you ? Are you still celebrating becoming a septuagenarian ? Hope all is well with you !
I'm with Teresa and Barbara...what's up, friend? Do we have to trek to the Cities and hunt you up???
Thanks for stopping by today. Hope all is well.
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