Greetings

Excerpt:

Among the countless birthday cards we’ve received over the years, the American Greetings Birthday Card (Wishes) stands out—not for its design, but for a subtle revelation. Flipping through our collection, we noticed how “wishes” often feel generic, while “greetings” carry a richer emotional weight. This card, with its minimalist yet heartfelt message, prompted us to explore the unspoken rules of birthday messaging. Is the distinction between the two a loose framework, or a rigid structure that sometimes backfires? We wondered if the 79 implied rules governing tone and specificity (or lack thereof) leave room for genuine thought. The Wishes card, for us, became a symbol of this paradox: simple, yet layered with questions. Could a card this straightforward bridge the gap between formulaic greetings and authentic wishes? That remains a question for us to ponder.