MetaChat - Birthday cards

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09 July 2007

Birthday cards I have 4 birthday cards I need to send but I have no idea what to say in them.→[More:] They're close, dear people but I'm still at a loss. What does one generally say besides Happy Birthday?

post by: small_ruminant at: 13:07 | 20 comments

You're the greatest!
Hope your day is smashing!
I love you!
You're wonderful!
May all your birthday wishes come true!
Eat a piece of cake for me!

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 09 July | 13:09

Do like the old people and underline specific words in the card. Then throw in one of TPS's suggestions or even a good old fashioned xoxox.

posted by jrossi4r 09 July | 13:13

I try to buy blank cards then write stuff in myself.

posted by Capn 09 July | 13:14

Many happy returns of the day!

posted by Hugh Janus 09 July | 13:15

If they have a good sense of humor, try using one of the lines from someecards.

posted by fallenposters 09 July | 13:16

Have a wonderful day and an even better year!

posted by gaspode 09 July | 13:17

haha sounds good. It just seems too impersonal. On the other hand, everyone's life sucks so bad I don't want to mention any-thing reality based in a celebratory card.

They keep coming out as- "well, things are bound to get better- how much worse can it get?" (jeez- talk about jinxing someone)

Or, "well, at least you're not dead, which at least your friends are happy about, even if you're not."

Related: "Hey, thanks for not offing yourself for another year- keep it up!"

Or, "sorry your life is an endless treadmill of misery, with no hope of relief."

Related "Well, things will be easier when the kids are grown, so- hey, only 10 years to go!"

I'm really bad at this.

posted by small_ruminant 09 July | 13:21

ooo. I'll check out the someecards. Thanks.

posted by small_ruminant 09 July | 13:21

jeez. my ideas kind of ARE someecards, only not as clever.

posted by small_ruminant 09 July | 13:27

I tend to try for, "Wishing you X, Y, and Z in the coming year" where X, Y, and Z are good things whose specificity increases with my degree of connection to the recipient.

Acquaintance: happiness, fun, and smiles
Friend: joy, love, and sunshine
Friend with a sense of humor: plenty of hookers, blow, and ready cash

So general advice would be to wish good things, in whatever form, for the future, rather than worrying too much about describing the past or present.

posted by occhiblu 09 July | 13:53

good idea, occhiblu. way less depressing.

posted by small_ruminant 09 July | 13:57

I'm all about the reframe.

posted by occhiblu 09 July | 15:17

How about, "may all your birthday wishes come true, and may you serve no time for them."

posted by small_ruminant 09 July | 15:35

Hee. That's awesome.

posted by occhiblu 09 July | 15:35

That's beautiful, small_ruminant. But I really think I'm going to sign all my cards with:
"Wishing you X, Y, and Z in the coming year" where X, Y, and Z are good things whose specificity increases with my degree of connection to you, the recipient

posted by jrossi4r 09 July | 15:41

Hee. That's even more awesome.

posted by occhiblu 09 July | 15:53

jrossi, that's perfect!

posted by small_ruminant 09 July | 16:14

Use made-up words: Hope it's another groove-tastic year! Have a spiff-alicious Birfday! Keep your mojotrain rolling! and so on. Or just be sincere, and say I hope you have a happy birthday and a wonderful year, my friend.

I may be swiping jrossi's text.

posted by theora55 09 July | 17:31

Sincere is hard. Those someecards are scary because my whole family talks that way. If you get too sincere we assume you've gone a complete circle are back to being snarky. Sideways and backhanded sincerity is the best course.

posted by small_ruminant 09 July | 18:05

"Get Well Soon!" - clueless, but upbeat. I like it.

posted by trondant 10 July | 08:53

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