Thursday, September 30, 2010

Love Card Day



Sorry about yesterday.

(DO NOT click onto the link, unless you want to be severely grossed out. You've been warned.)

I gave serious consideration to NOT running those photos, after I got a chance to see them myself, but I had promised them to you, so I kept my word. Sometimes, it's better to break a promise.

Anyway, the following is not grody at all. It is, however, a reprint. I'd apologize for that, but I've done enough apologizing already. And if I really was sorry to be running this piece again, then I wouldn't run it. So there.


LOVE CARD DAY




One of my readers e-mailed me recently, to ask a question concerning my availability on September 30th. I replied, "Are you insane? That's Love Card Day! Of course I'm not available, you dope!"

Heck of a way to talk to one's mother (especially since she reads this stuff and still actually admits to folks that I'm her son) but I don't plan anything for Love Card Day. Well, except for the obligatory exchange of love cards, of course.

[blank stare]

Why are you looking at me like that? You don't mean to tell me you've never heard of Love Card Day! What planet are you from? Earth? Where's that? And, while we're at it, who stole my underwear?

[even blanker stare, if that were possible]

OK, enough "funny" introductory material. Here's the scoop on Love Card Day.

MY WIFE and I met, had a couple of dates, fell in love, and decided to get married.

(That's the abridged version. More details are available here.)

Anyway, as we progressed through the courtship stage (as it's known to ornitholigists) we found out a very interesting fact concerning our fathers. Her father and my father were both born on the same day, in the same year.

I don't know what the odds are against that happening - two people meeting and finding out their fathers were born on the exact same day - but I suspect it's rather high. Higher still if you limit it to people who end up marrying each other. On top of that, our fathers were both raised in the same Boston neighborhood, Forest Hills, just a few blocks from each other. Anyway, they were both born on September 30th, 1931.

(As an aside, as MY WIFE and I got to know each other better, we found out that our paths had crossed many times before we met. It was spooky finding out how many times we might have gotten to know each other before we actually did. However, we both feel that we didn't actually meet at those times because we wouldn't have liked each other then. We both grew to be people we could stand and then we met. For instance, I used to do lots and lots of drugs, while MY WIFE has never done an illegal drug in her life. I was a long-haired metal-playing freak, while she was a strait-laced church-going choir member. When we met, I was balding and sober. MY WIFE was... well, pretty much as she had been. OK, I had become someone MY WIFE could stand. However, I digress.)

So, the thing is, we celebrated both of our fathers' birthdays on the same day, which was September 30th.

I'll cut to the chase. In 1994, my father died. In 1995, MY WIFE's father died. This made September 30th a somewhat sad day on the calendar. However, instead of dwelling on the deaths, MY WIFE had the idea that it would be nice to turn it into a day of celebration. I agreed. In honor of our fathers, we remade their shared birthday into Love Card Day.

Now, none of the stuff we do on Love Card Day sounds like a great way of memorializing someone. However, if you knew our fathers, you'd know that they both liked a good joke and they both really liked to eat. Those were probably their most outstanding traits. So, here's what we do, in honor of our fathers, on Love Card Day.

First, we each buy a greeting card for the other person. This is the "Love Card". We designate a particular brand of greeting card, and we both shop for that brand, independent of the other person. The only qualifier, other than the brand, is that it must be a "Love" card - one that expresses that sentiment. It doesn't have to be humorous, but usually will end up being so. On the initial Love Card Day, it was a Hallmark Shoebox card because we had coupons for free ones.

(On that first Love Card Day, when we exchanged cards, we found that we had both bought the same card. We had shopped at different times, in different stores, but out of the couple hundred or so choices available, we got the same card for each other. We have failed to replicate this extraordinary coincidence since then, but we took it as a sign that we were on the right track when it happened.)

Next, since our fathers both loved to eat, we have dinner.

That's it.

It may not sound like anything earth-shattering, but it turns what could be a very melancholy day into a day that we, instead, look forward to sharing with each other. Nothing wrong with that. It's our own personal holiday.

So, dear reader, make a note: I am never available on September 30th. It's Love Card Day, you dope!

(I would have given a link to the site where I found the calendar, but when I clicked onto the site from which it it supposedly came, it would not load. If you can't get there from here, why bother trying? If the copyright owner has a complaint, e-mail me. I'll be glad to include a working link next year when I re-post this piece again.)

Soon, with more better stuff.


31 comments:

Jeni said...

I think the idea of the "Love Card Day" is quite admirable. Build your own traditions and who knows, but perhaps others will find a circumstance in their own lives to copy your idea. It could happen, ya know.
Peace.

Craig said...

Sweet tradition.

Altho, when I saw the calendar, my brain instantly went to something more like a 'Love Scorecard'. 'Cuz, you know, my brain runs in that direction a lot. . . ;)

I'd guess that, on pure odds, it would be 1 in 365 that your fathers would share the same birthdate. But the same year, in the same neighborhood - that's just spooky. . .

Daryl said...

I love personal card holidays .. eons ago my friend Linda and I discovered that her mom and my dad shared Oct 20 as their birthdays .. they were not the same age and had little in common but to Linda and me it was a big deal..

Unknown said...

Celebrating special days, especially ones you've created, will keep the romance in your life Suldog, good on you.

Sandi McBride said...

I love the thought but Love Card day in this house is October 15th since that was the day in 1968 that Mad Mac made me his bride! Love the idea tho lol!~
Sandi

Anonymous said...

Cool. Everyone should have a love card day!
- Jazz

Kathryn Magendie said...

I am trying so so so so so so so so very hard not to click on the link where you say not to click on it because I'll be grossed out but still I am curious and curiosity killed the kat and and ....maybe I should just hurry and x out before I am tempted too much ....erk

Anonymous said...

I just want you to know that I appreciated the fact that you included the word grody in your blog post title yesterday.

I did not click. Nor will I!

Yes, I a weenie that way.

I love your idea of a Love Card Day. That is sweet!

I'm thinking of making up my own days too!

Have You Hugged Your Zombie day?
Zombies Rule and Vampires Drool Day
Brainz! It's not just for Breakfast anymore day.

Are you sensing a theme? Hmm.

Hilary said...

That's so sweet. But I expect that from you.. and of course YOUR WIFE. Sept 30 is I Miss My Cats Day for me. Both of my old girls died on this date, two years apart. I love the way you and YOUR WIFE celebrate life.

Karen said...

That's a nice tradition - I like it. I may have told you this before, but my Mom and a brother were born on the same day, 2 yrs apart. My Dad and a sister were born on the same day, 7 yrs apart. One of my sisters gave birth to a son and daughter, born on the same day, 1 year apart. My son-in-law's birthday is one day after mine. My sister's daughter-in-law's birthday is one day after hers. Now, there's a coinkydink!

Chris said...

Jim, you are an unlimited goldmine of great ideas. That is a very creative and romantic way to honor not only your fathers, but each other.

Too cool.

On another note, my word verification for this comment is "baldit". This would, I suppose, either be a bandit who lost his hair, or what you'd call someone who wrote himself a reminder note on the top of his head.

Unknown said...

What a lovely tradition! Very sweet.

(not necessarily your) Uncle Skip said...

Cool idea.
Did I ever tell you that my cousin and I were born on the same day, were next door neighbors for the first five years, and now that we've outlived everyone, we've known each other longer than anyone else has known us.

My verification word is nowsrus
I am only guessing that it would be a good name for a group of folks who live in the moment?

Ananda girl said...

Obviously, you two together were meant to be. I think Love Card Day is a wonderful idea. Enjoy!

Buck said...

Happy Love Card Day, Jim. A VERY cool new tradition, this.

lime said...

just one of the things i adore about you and YOUR WIFE. if more people took what might otherwise be a sad day to remember and turned it into something beautiful the world would be a better place. thanks for the way you two make your corner a better place and for sharing this again.

Sniffles and Smiles said...

You two are simply terrific!!!!!!!! What a great way to deal with grief!!!!! Happy Love Card day, Jim!! I love it!!! Hugs, Janine

Shammickite said...

This is a good tradition to follow and celebrate. I think everyone should have a love card day in their lives. It helps too, if you have someone to love.

Carolina said...

What a lovely idea. I can't even remember the date hubs and I met. If I really try hard I can perhaps remember the year. I'm great at forgetting birthdays, dates beloved ones died, dates people got married. Just don't have a head for numbers. That's my excuse.
But you and your wonderful wife do a great job on all that and since I more or less know you, I'd like to think you two make up for my failure in the 'dates to remember'-department ;-)
What do you mean 'it doesn't work like that'. No?

Hope you had a wonderful Love Card Day :-)

Land of shimp said...

I did not click the link, Jim :-) I live in blissfully un-grossed-out territory, but thank you for the warning.

What a lovely tradition, it's sweet and a little bit corny, but that's what makes being part of a couple fun. Having your own language, and the things only you two really get, but are special to you.

I hope you're doing well. Have a good weekend.

Shrinky said...

That is such a beautiful tradition, both your dad's must be smiling down at you on that day! By another coincidence, my eldest also celebrates his birthday on 30th Sept, too! This year is his first one away from home (gulp)- he's been away at Uni for all of a week now. Turns out, word got round it was his birthday - invites were printed out, and a huge fancy dress party thrown in his honour (it being a "surprise", he had his outfit bought and chosen for him - I'm told he was the belle of the ball in drag and high heels..).

Happy belated love card day everyone!

Jenn Flynn-Shon said...

I remember reading this last year and thinking it was such a wonderful tradition and how serendipitous it was to get each other the same card. Smiles definitely keep people together!

Maggie May said...

That was packed with coincidences. I should think the odds were very much against that happening.

My mother & my mother in law were both born in the same year & my father & father in law were also both born in the same year 5 yrs prior to the ladies.

When I got married I only had to change my maiden name by one letter of the alphabet. So coincidences do happen.

Maggie X

Nuts in May

Sandra said...

I love this idea! And what a nice way to honor your father's.

I don't think I would have liked the old you either. But I think the guy who was smart enough to charm THE WIFE into marrying him and is sentimental enough to celebrate a yearly love card day -- is a way-better kind of "cool". :)

i beati said...

Now we're talkin buddy !!!Love is in the air !!

Pat - Arkansas said...

I think Love Card Day is wonderful and admirable.

One of my brothers-in-law was born on September 30, but in 1923. I helped him celebrate his 87th birthday this year, sans cake and candles (fire hazard, you know.)

Wishing you and YOUR WIFE a wonderful weekend.

Angela Christensen said...

Are you kiddin'? There's little pieces of earth-shattering scattered throughout. Changing the world, one improvised holiday at a time.

Michelle H. said...

It's a wonderful holiday to celebrate. You should patent it. Hope you had a great weekend.

Lisa Johnson said...

Belated Happy Love Card day! That's one of the best ideas I've ever heard. What a wonderful way to celebrate. : )

Matt Conlon said...

five days since your last update?? You ok? I thought I'd come here and catch up on the posts I'd missed over the last week or so, and see what Sully was up to, and the news is a full business week old? wtf?

And a LOVE card update was the last thing you left for me??

Jimbo... you're slipping.

(in all seriousness, good post. :) (

So... NEXT!(jeez!)

Ruth and Glen said...

What a wonderful tradition! Wow, haven't heard the word "grody" used in years. What a blast from the past. :o)