January 7, 2022 — For cardies who so love words and live with a true sense of gratitude, it was powerful to hear the U.S. Representatives reflecting yesterday, warmly expressing their thanks to the Capitol police — as well as each other — for making it safely out of the House Chambers that memorable day. I made a note of Pennsylvania Rep. Madeleine Dean’s final remark thinking, “What a lovely Passages card that would make.” She said to her colleagues, “Lucky me … to pass this way with you.”
Long before January 6th was “January 6th,” the day was a very sad one for me. I’ve shared this story here in the past and it feels right to share it again now, along with the new thank you card above and new boxed notes below. It’s this experience that has led me to wonder if people who don’t send notes expressing gratitude maybe have never known how powerful they can be to receive …
On January 6th, 2005, I returned home after spending the previous night in ER with my mother. I had found Mom on the floor of her kitchen, God only knows how long she had laid there after suffering a stroke. I had been allowed in the ambulance with her, and in ER for the 10 hours she was stuck on a gurney there through the night.
When Mom was finally moved to a room in the afternoon, I slipped home to shower and walk my poor dog and, on my way in, grabbed my mail. And there in the mailbox was this note from my mother.
My mom lived in the building next door, so she’d already thanked me profusely in person. And by phone. And email. But like so many mothers from whom we all inherited the loving cardie gene, when it came to a proper thank you, mine believed that such a sentiment was not adequately expressed until it was hand-written, stamped and mailed.
Mom was never able to speak again, but she did die very peacefully three weeks later. On the little desk in her kitchen, we’d found her open box of note cards and roll of stamps. Her pen was still where it had fallen with her. She must have dropped my note in the mailbox in time for it to be on its way that same day, then gone right back to her writing.
Over the years, many cardies have shared eerily similar mom-stories with me, agreeing that our mothers left us an amazing legacy … sure signs that what we cardies do truly matters. I missed Mom a lot yesterday, knowing we’d have been sitting side-by-side hanging on every word of those testimonials. I’ll never again be able to sit and talk books or clothes or social justice with her, or hear her 8:30 sharp phoned-in, “Good night!” Her quirky emails in which her entire grocery list would appear in the Subject line? Long gone. But that note, in her handwriting, with her little signature mouse … you can imagine how much it will forever mean to me.
Fellow cardies, of one thing I have no doubt: You have many people in your life who love you as much as my mom loved me. Be it in Cardthartic cards and notes, or others you have chosen with care, I hope your loved ones will long be able to re-read the messages you’ve written them about how very much they mean to you. As my mom would so often say, “Enjoy today!”
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
So beautiful – thank you for sharing
What a moving story! I too have many notes from my Mom who went to Heaven 5 years ago. I still wait for my phone to ring at 4:00 pm. We talked every afternoon at that time even if we had spent part of our day together doctoring, shopping, lunching, or just going for a ride and getting an ice cream cone. She taught my sisters and I how to write thank you notes as son as we could print and now at age 71, I still enjoy writing (and receiving) handwritten notes. When my only child, Scott, passed away 16 months ago, flowers, food etc were lovely but I cherish the notes and cards I received so I can read them again. I recently received my first order from your company and am thrilled!!!!!! Wishing you many blessings in this new year. Paula Anderson
Dear Jodee,
How you struck my heartstrings. I had lunch with my Mum about 20 years ago. I went back north to where I lived and got a phone call at 4:00 in the afternoon. My Mum had fallen. I rushed down to the hospital and was told she had just come out of surgery. My Mum lost her memory that day.
She was in hospital for about a month. We had to put her in a nursing home. She had no one idea who she was or who I was
She lived from March until September. She died peacefully of pneumonia. All the months we talked and she was so impressed that I could find her.
I told her that I was very good with maps. I saw her every day. My Mum was a perfect Mum. She was kind and always put the family first.I miss her. My heart goes out to you about your Mom.
Teresa
I’m so happy for you that you have loving and special memories of your mom.There is nothing better as we grow older than to reflect on those who have loved us unconditionally and fully. Not everyone has these 3xperiences with their parents. Mine too was an awesome loving and caring person missed and loved always.❤️❤️❤️❤️
Well, that warmed my heart, and of course, brought on some tears. I too have many notes from my mom, to include a card thanking me for a wonderful Christmas. 9 years after her passing, it is still hard to walk thru the PETITE section in our local department store without thinking, “That would look good on Rose”.
Jodee, as always your message was so moving and I’m sorry for your loss. Our mothers love us unconditionally and it is so hard when they’re gone, whether it was a year ago or decades, that loss is always there.
I want to thank you for the thank a caregiver card that was included in my last order. I showed it to Bill and said who I wanted to send it to and he readily agreed. Our neighbor’s husband has had a form of dementia for several years and caring for him has been very challenging. Their daughter lives in town and is an emergency room nurse at our local hospital but every day, without fail, she stops at her parents’ home to help with her dad. She is an angel and I was so glad to send her that card.
Every year I use a calendar to staple or write my special memories in. I can go back to a given year to look at the photos, cards & notes from family & friends. I have a huge box of these calendars. I also put newspaper headlines in the calendar when they are too important to not keep as part of my personal life story. When my aunt, that raised me, passed away I searched for the shoebox where she kept the memories she treasured. I found so many ‘mushy’ cards in it from both my sister and I. It is always heartwarming to realize the love you shared was cherished. My Fairycardmother was created by a special, caring Mother. It is clear ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’.