"Isn't that sweet?"

This week, I recently watched one of my all time favorite films: (500) Days of Summer. 

(If you haven’t seen it, leave my blog and rent it NOW…then come back).

Anyway, Tom Hansen writes greeting cards for a living but his true desire is to pursue architecture.  Frustrated over his recent relationship state and status, he hastily lashed out at a meeting about the negative of greeting cards:

“Lies, were liars think about it, why do people buy these things? It's not because they wanna say how they feel, people buy cards cause they can't say how they feel or they're afraid too. We provide the service that lets them off the hook. You know what? I say to hell with it. Lets level with America at least let them speak for themselves right I mean look, look. What is this, what does this say? "Congratulations on your new baby." How bout "congratulations on your new baby, guess that's it for hanging out, nice knowing ya." How bout this one? With all the pretty hearts on the front, I think I know where this ones going. Yup "Happy Valentines Day sweetheart, I love you." Isn't that sweet? Ain't love grand? This is exactly what I'm talking about. What does that even mean, love? Do you know? Do you? Anybody? If somebody gave me this card Mr. Vance, I'd eat it. It's these cards, and the movies and the pop songs, they're to blame for all the lies and the heartache, everything. We're responsible. I'M responsible. I think we do a bad thing here. People should be able to say how they feel, how they really feel, not ya know, some words that some stranger put in their mouth. Words like love, that don't mean anything. Sorry, I'm sorry, I um, I quit. There's enough bullshit in the world without my help.”

The first 123 times I saw the movie, I was still so intrigued by the story line, I was simply swept away with emotion and applauded his efforts. It was not until the 124 time, that I really began to think about what he was saying and think about it.

I will admit I am a greeting card junkie! I spend hours upon hours sifting through endless cards until I find the PERFECT card for the person I am looking for. Sometimes, being so proud of my uncanny ability to always find the ideal fit, I begin to explain in my card, why it is such the perfect card. Scribbled with arrows, labels and addition features (such as curly hair and glasses) I often find myself so happy with my work that I have a hard time parting ways. I’ve been known to walk out of stores when I can’t find a card only to return 5 minutes later to purchase the same card I was staring at for 20 minutes.

This fall, I stood in the back of Mclanahan's for hours, pacing back in forth until I found the card that summed up my birthday wishes for my roommate, who I’ve only known for 3 months at the time.

I’ll even buy cards months in advance so I don’t risk missing out on the flawless card. I currently have a Valentine’s Day card in my desk draw, ready to be filled out for next year. And yes, it is only March. I had bought two cards for my boyfriend and could not figure out which one to give (Shhh).

But better yet, I love when people find perfect cards for me! Credit to my boyfriend who understands my obsession with greeting cards and surprises me on the random occasion. There’s something about a crisp envelope that sparks my curiosity. There are SO many possibilities of cards that could be sitting waiting to be read! I keep all my cards in sorted out shoeboxes in my bedroom and even have a drawer accumulating the cards I’ve gotten in college. Or the “Hoarder Drawer” as my friends in Hastings like to call it.

This rant from (500) Days of Summer really put into perspective on why I have such a hard time finding the right fit. How does a greeting card company know how I am feeling? How can they sum up into a 3 x 5 paper my relationship with my relatives and friends? They can’t. But what they can do is provide a fun way to express general feelings. Whereas I may not find a card that says “If I had to be stuck in a hot, cramped East hall dorm room, it would be with you!” there will always be a card to say, Thanks! Sorry :( and Happy Birthday is new ways that I haven’t thought of. There is nothing more special then when you find the perfect card for someone because it seems like an act of fate! What are the odds that my complex relationship is portrayed so vividly into that small little space.  The Greeting Cards Gods created this work just for me! And hey, there is always that little white space at the bottom to add some of your creative flare. So before you bash the company’s for letting American’s “off the hook” by expressing their emotions for them, understand that deciding on the card its self, is an act of expression. Even though, I do suggest writing your own message and even a homemade every once in a while. Don’t feel ashamed while your waiting in the check out line holding the card with the old ladies on the front!