April 28, 2023 — This card’s inside reads, “And no one does my heart more good than you.” Who might you send it to? Who prompts the laughter that does your heart good?!
I feel fortunate to say I could send this card to a dozen people on any given day, which I guess says something about what characteristic ranks high with me in friends, family, and colleagues! Happily, that includes Contributing Cardies Jeffrey and Barbara Lazar.
I’ve written of this pair here before, quoting the self-description Barb offered in our first email exchange four years ago now. She’d initially written to say, “My husband loves ordering your cards for me,” then later explained, “I’ve had health problems, and love to have things quiet and simple. Jeff’s a friendly, kind, very nice man. We’re perfect together. He loves to be around people, talk to them. I’m always trying to stay in the background, thinking. He’s a rabbi/educator, and tutors Bar/Bat Mitzvah students.”
Over the years, I have come to so value this Cardie couple’s friendship as well as mentorship that I’m all smiles the minute I see Lazars pop up on caller ID. The message on the popular new Passages three geese card (94136) came straight from a birthday message Barb sent me. And, next to that, is the silly monkey in the mirror design (94044) in which we quoted Jeff, “At the end of the day, if you like who’s looking back at you in the mirror … you’ve had a pretty good day.”
These two are beautifully/brutally honest. They are Cardthartic’s self-appointed standard bearers, always challenging me to keep our creative standards high. Hehe, one evening soon after we’d sent potential card designs to Cardies who’ve expressed an interest in giving us feedback, Jeff called. He said as diplomatically as can be, “The good news is that we liked three of the proposed designs.” When I replied, “Hmm, well, there were 75 in all,” he hemmed and hawed and finally said, “Yes, I know. We just think you can do better.”
Over the next 45 minutes or so, try as he might, Jeff could not get through to me their concerns about the release. He joked a lot, and that did my heart good, but as far as constructive criticism goes, we finally had to give up and hang up. Minutes later, in came another call from the Lazars. I answered, “Hey, Jeff. Did you have another thought?” and heard, “It’s Barb. I’m calling you because Jeffrey is such a kind and positive and supportive man, that he sometimes can’t bring himself to say what needs to be said. I can, and I’m calling to say, ‘You can’t print that crap!’”
Hahahaha, “How do you really feel, Barb?!” She went on to explain their view that some of our attempted humor was “too goofy or snarky for Cardthartic! Let other card makers publish that stupid, sophmoric stuff if they want, but know that we’re looking to you for more of the deeper, richer, meaningful messages that drew us to you and kept us coming back. Cardthartic has never and should never do crap!”
Hehe, Barb was great — and brave! — and through her eyes and lots of shared laughter, I could see exactly what they were pointing to. It’s not easy to risk rejection as Barb did, but I knew her heart and could hear the love and respect and sincere wish for Cardthartic’s success in her every word. I still chuckle over, “You can’t print that crap!” at least once a week, and you can be sure we now look at every potential design through the Lazar Lens.
Jeff has written, “Life is not always easy, but you take things one day at a time, and you’re grateful for any sunshine that manages to make its way in.” Jeff and Barb ARE sunshine.
Hmm. Now given that I live in the Sunshine State, I may have to share this joke with them: The blonde mom piled her three thrilled kids in the car for a much-anticipated road trip to Disney World. It was a long drive, with the question of “Are we there yet?” ringing out often. But on she drove and drove and drove and drove until, finally, up ahead, at long last she saw the sign: Disney World Left. So she turned the car around and drove home. 😆
Hehe, enjoy a great, sunny weekend with a sprinkle of laughter.
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
April 28, 2023 — This card’s inside reads, “And no one does my heart more good than you.” Who might you send it to? Who prompts the laughter that does your heart good?!
I feel fortunate to say I could send this card to a dozen people on any given day, which I guess says something about what characteristic ranks high with me in friends, family, and colleagues! Happily, that includes Contributing Cardies Jeffrey and Barbara Lazar.
I’ve written of this pair here before, quoting the self-description Barb offered in our first email exchange four years ago now. She’d initially written to say, “My husband loves ordering your cards for me,” then later explained, “I’ve had health problems, and love to have things quiet and simple. Jeff’s a friendly, kind, very nice man. We’re perfect together. He loves to be around people, talk to them. I’m always trying to stay in the background, thinking. He’s a rabbi/educator, and tutors Bar/Bat Mitzvah students.”
Over the years, I have come to so value this Cardie couple’s friendship as well as mentorship that I’m all smiles the minute I see Lazars pop up on caller ID. The message on the popular new Passages three geese card (94136) came straight from a birthday message Barb sent me. And, next to that, is the silly monkey in the mirror design (94044) in which we quoted Jeff, “At the end of the day, if you like who’s looking back at you in the mirror … you’ve had a pretty good day.”
These two are beautifully/brutally honest. They are Cardthartic’s self-appointed standard bearers, always challenging me to keep our creative standards high. Hehe, one evening soon after we’d sent potential card designs to Cardies who’ve expressed an interest in giving us feedback, Jeff called. He said as diplomatically as can be, “The good news is that we liked three of the proposed designs.” When I replied, “Hmm, well, there were 75 in all,” he hemmed and hawed and finally said, “Yes, I know. We just think you can do better.”
Over the next 45 minutes or so, try as he might, Jeff could not get through to me their concerns about the release. He joked a lot, and that did my heart good, but as far as constructive criticism goes, we finally had to give up and hang up. Minutes later, in came another call from the Lazars. I answered, “Hey, Jeff. Did you have another thought?” and heard, “It’s Barb. I’m calling you because Jeffrey is such a kind and positive and supportive man, that he sometimes can’t bring himself to say what needs to be said. I can, and I’m calling to say, ‘You can’t print that crap!’”
Hahahaha, “How do you really feel, Barb?!” She went on to explain their view that some of our attempted humor was “too goofy or snarky for Cardthartic! Let other card makers publish that stupid, sophmoric stuff if they want, but know that we’re looking to you for more of the deeper, richer, meaningful messages that drew us to you and kept us coming back. Cardthartic has never and should never do crap!”
Hehe, Barb was great — and brave! — and through her eyes and lots of shared laughter, I could see exactly what they were pointing to. It’s not easy to risk rejection as Barb did, but I knew her heart and could hear the love and respect and sincere wish for Cardthartic’s success in her every word. I still chuckle over, “You can’t print that crap!” at least once a week, and you can be sure we now look at every potential design through the Lazar Lens.
Jeff has written, “Life is not always easy, but you take things one day at a time, and you’re grateful for any sunshine that manages to make its way in.” Jeff and Barb ARE sunshine.
Hmm. Now given that I live in the Sunshine State, I may have to share this joke with them: The blonde mom piled her three thrilled kids in the car for a much-anticipated road trip to Disney World. It was a long drive, with the question of “Are we there yet?” ringing out often. But on she drove and drove and drove and drove until, finally, up ahead, at long last she saw the sign: Disney World Left. So she turned the car around and drove home. 😆
Hehe, enjoy a great, sunny weekend with a sprinkle of laughter.
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
I LOVED the joke. I appreciate humor of all types including gallow humor.
Is there anything better than a story that has you doubled over with laughter, barely able to take a breath? Bring it on.
I love this series of cards. . . why? Because sometimes you don’t want a whole conversation — just a one-liner with some zing!! Good job!