# Birthday cards **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 29, 2007, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birthday-cards/409915 "2007-06-29T13:42:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birthday-cards/409915/1 "2007-06-29T13:42:49Z")
I’m really bad at composing birthday cards. Any type of cards, really, but birthday cards especially. I just don’t do well at writing mushy stuff like “May your year be filled with happiness and your dreams be fulfilled…” blech In the past, I’ve usually gone to [Hallmark.com](http://Hallmark.com) and written something from one of their cards. I just can’t think of anything to say other than, “Score good presents!” What do you do when it’s time to send a card to a close friend? Where do you get your inspiration? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birthday-cards/409915/2 "2007-06-29T13:53:05Z")
I purchased one recently for a friend that pictured an elderly Eastern Block woman wishing her an abundance of orgasms. It was her favorite card this year! ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birthday-cards/409915/3 "2007-06-29T14:38:46Z")
I hate writing long messages in cards, especially since you know they are going right in the trash. but I usually write something along the lines of, “May your XXth year be your best yet!” If I felt uncomfortable mentioning their age I would just write, “Best wishes for a fantastic day.” ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birthday-cards/409915/4 "2007-06-29T14:42:37Z")
[QUOTE=LunaV] I just can’t think of anything to say other than, “Score good presents!” What do you do when it’s time to send a card to a close friend? Where do you get your inspiration? [/QUOTE] That’s pretty much EXACTLY what I say. Seriously. My in-laws and friends LOVE getting cards from me. They say I make them smile. Doesn’t get much better than that, right? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dazzling\_White\_Diamonds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@Dazzling\_White\_Diamonds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dazzling_White_Diamonds)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2007, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birthday-cards/409915/5 "2007-06-29T15:41:10Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] I purchased one recently for a friend that pictured an elderly Eastern Block woman wishing her an abundance of orgasms. It was her favorite card this year! [/QUOTE] I purchased this very same card for a friend whose bday is later on this year. I can’t wait to give it to her! I much prefer the bawdy, witty cards to the sentimental ones. And as far as writing something flowing and poetic, I don’t sweat it. If I’m in the right mood to do so, I can say some pretty beautiful things. If I’m not in that mood, I generally say something funny. Just because I don’t say the beautiful, poetic things doesn’t mean that I’m not feeling them. Nope. Not one bit. Making someone smile is the end result, no matter what. It’s all good. So I guess what I’m saying is that I generally buy a card that doesn’t require me to go to great lengths in coming up with that oh-so-right phrasing. 😉 ETA: Oh, and if I was getting a card for a close friend, they’d probably expect and even **want** the witty, bawdy card with a funny or smart-alecky remark from me, because it would be a reflection of me and of our friendship.