Well I am two weeks behind this Saturday challenge. I am going to ” kill two birds with one stone ” and use it as a blog post. I have been holding it in my mind and heart; I hope you enjoy it.
In my mind, I have been thinking about cards. When we did the move from our home to downsize, cards were stuffed in every drawer. Over 30 years worth and I couldn’t part with any of them. I watched so many of my friend’s children grow up through Christmas cards. I had so many from so many friends and so many beautiful enduring messages. I couldn’t part with any of them and some are etched on my heart. Sadly, I had to say goodbye to my card collection.
Fast forward to the apartment life. My sitter helps me do tic-tac lists or jobs that my caregiver doesn’t have time to do. So we cleaning out the drawers in an antique buffet that we put the TV on and guess what we found? Yes, cards. We began going through them. I went through every emotion rereading the cards. Then I read the God wink. Long ago during my working years, my sweet husband sent me roses and a small card signed by the florist signed Love, Ken. I told him that I could tell he didn’t write it and roses were too expensive for us. I am a simple country girl who just wants wildflowers or a $5 bouquet from the grocery store. From that day forward, he sent wildflowers and signed the cards “I love you, Ken.” He had amazing handwriting. When I had to retire from teaching because of ALS, I found an inch thick, rubber banded set of florist cards signed by my sweet husband, MSH. He was the absolute best man a woman could ever want.
He loved giving cards on every occasion. He would meticulously pick out every one with love and care for each recipient: daughters, sons, mother, father, brother, grandparents, nephews, nieces, and me. My daughter remembers being his accomplice in his last seasons of card hunting. They had the sweetest relationship. He wanted to make it until she was older and settled like I was when my father passed. I was 35 years old. She was our Disney World souvenir when the boys were 16, 11, and 8 years old. I apologized for making him a father for all of his days. His first child was at 18 and his last child was at 46 years old. I don’t think he would have had it any other way. He treasured fatherhood and each one of his 5 children until his last breath at 66 years old. He was our St. Joseph. Our souvenir was 21 years old.
My life has been full of love and cards. There’s something so special about the care taken with written cards. Texts and emails pale in comparison with the time and effort of hand written notes by the ones we love. Embrace it. The terrible irony of my life is that ALS took my ability to physically hold a pen and write. I write with my eyes for you. Here’s your homework. Leave someone you love a note or card. Tell them you care about them.
Sarah Anderson Alley
Sal the Card Loving Gal
Quotes of the Day
“A word after a word after a word is power.” — Margaret Atwood
“If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.” — Martin Luther
“Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.” — Rudyard Kipling
“The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” — author unknown
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