“Olive you”?
It’s not.
I got it, but if she’s so judgmental that you had to back off, why do you want to reconnect with her?
You’re right. Maybe I shouldn’t be, but I go back and forth. I feel bad for her. She’s not a happy person, but she does have the ability to be a good person.
I’m a sucker for unhappy people and trying to help them. It’ll never go back to the friendship that we had, but also don’t want her to feel as though I dislike her.
Assuming you are both experienced adults-skip the subtle images. You wouldn’t put such things in a business message, don’t try to be cute here. If the relationship starts up again, then it is time for imagery and such.
That said, cute is always an ice-breaker. Say what you need to say and sign the message with a pic of a cute puppy. Everyone loves puppies.
As for the olive wreath-I got it but just shook my head. It isn’t going to work.
I mean, I got right away that it was supposed to be an olive branch, but that’s only because you said to look for the message. Had I just seen the image with no context it would just look like a stock flowery birthday image.
That’s exactly right. I voted “no” but really I did understand the message. But that’s only because I knew to look. There is no way in hell I would look at that and think there was hidden meaning if I didn’t know there was hidden meaning. I would’ve skimmed over the branches and thought that they were only a border.
Another vote for too subtle. I got it, but I got it with the context spelled out. If I just received that on its own, I’d go “hmm, pretty” and think it was nice of you to send me a happy birthday text and think nothing else of it. It wouldn’t even cross my mind that it’s supposed to be a symbolic message.
I see it, but if you hadn’t specifically said, “By the picture, wondering how many people will see the message I’m sending,” I doubt if I would.
Better try something with doves. Or just freakin’ say, “I miss you.”
Or if it is an olive branch, “I’m sorry.”
While pictures may be worth a thousand words, sometimes the words are necessary for clarity.
I like enipla’s suggestion.
If that is all that you hope to achieve any birthday card will do that. Even ones without olive branches. No-one sends a card to someone they dislike.
Personally, I am amazed that anyone thinks the olive branch is a sensible motif for birthday cards. Obviously, I am in the minority as people are designing them.
I agree that you need a card with an olive branch, not a wreath, and I’d expressly refer to extending the olive branch in a note in the card. Whether you decide on wreath or branch, you decide on, think about what your goal is in sending this card. She has the potential to be a good person, but is she a good person to you? Do you truly want a friendship with her, or do you just want there to be no hard feelings on her end?
Too much drama for me, anymore.
Just sending a greeting is already extending an olive branch. No need to be cute.
I’m guessing she’s the Musco family heiress.
You’re doomed. Believe my experience.
Apart from that, I didn’t get the message until others hinted at it in the thread.
ETA : she’s very probably suffering less than you imagine from you having interrupted your relationship.
As I have told my wife on many occasions, if you’re going to deliver a hint to me do it with a sledgehammer. I would take your message as “Happy Birthday message, picture not related in any way to birthday, meh, thanks, on with life”.