Squashed Tomatoes and Stew

Happy birthday to you

Squashed tomatoes and stew

Bread and butter, in the gutter

Happy birthday to you!

Have you ever rung anyone up on their birthday and left them a birthday song like this? Or what about this one?

Happy birthday to you

You live at the zoo

You look like a monkey

And you smell like one too!

Okay, so maybe it's just me. But these variations on the great classic were the business when I was a kid. And I like having a trill into someone's voicemail on their birthday. But more than that, I like sending cards. 

Have you ever been guilty of the birthday Facebook post? Or the text message? Oh my golly gosh. Hearing you admit that breaks my heart a little bit. After all, what is a birthday for, if not for saying, I'm so happy you were born! My life just wouldn't be the same if you weren't in it. And how can you say those things by pressing buttons? You just can't!

Do you always mean to send a card but somehow things don't come together? Well, those days are over! Here's how:

Step 1: Put your loved ones' birthdays on your calendar, or in your phone, or on one of those birthday reminder websites.  Whatever works best for you. Get the reminders sent to you  a week or so before the birthday so you can make sure your card (and gift?) arrive on time.  

Step 2: Buy a bunch of stamps. Local and international, if, like me, you have those annoying jetsetting-type friends who live overseas, seemingly just for the purpose of making you envious of their fabulous intercontinental lifestyles.

Step 3: Keep a stack of cards handy. If you're crafty like a fox, you can make your own cards. Here's one I made recently:

If you're not even the slightest bit crafty, you can buy any one of 85 million or so cards, quicker than you can say Jack Robinson! Yes, my friends, I speak of online shopping. For something pretty and a little bit kooky, I love the cards at Oh My Cavalier.

Or for something irreverent and tongue-in-cheek you never need to look any further than Able and Game. 

 

So then, no more excuses now. Think of all those mailboxes of delight you'll be creating. Way to go!