Cards spread cheer like nothing else

TWO neighbours brought an envelope for me. The lovely card (showing a landscape by Kurt Jackson, an artist I admire), reads, ‘I hope you are feeling a little bit better! Spring is just around the corner — start making some plans for summer. I’m sure it won’t be long before you are up and about — and dancing again. Love Elaine (& Bob).’

These kind people live near our parish church, and I’ve been in very recent email contact with Elaine. So why walk threequarters of a mile to deliver a card? Strangely enough, I’d been thinking I’d write about why cards matter — and here was proof. ‘Oh, how lovely’ I said, just as I did opening every get-well card, whether from a friend or a Mail reader.

You put the well-chosen card on the mantelpiece and it gives you pleasure each time you see it. What email can do that?

Our local Clintons is full of cards for every occasion, yet sending them is going out of fashion. There are online card companies and each Christmas I get a couple of clever animated cards. But you can’t put them up! They can’t adorn your house for a couple of weeks.

Some acquaintances have announced they’d no longer be sending Christmas cards, but would ‘give money to charity instead’.

My first thought was, ‘Why not do both?’ — these were well- off folk. My second thought was, ‘OK, just ‘fess up, you can no longer be bothered to buy, write and post cards.’

Every Christmas my husband and I design and have printed our own unique cards, and of course, they cost us time and money. That’s our choice. But I have many friends who recycle and make their own cards, which costs them nothing. The point is the pleasure they give — and continue to give. A lovely card — and the message within it — can be kept for years.