Mike Lenhart (bio)

One can always tell when the card came from a "value pack" or a box of assorted cards for "all occasions". These boxes of cards are always at the back of a closet somewhere to be used for those instances when "the forgot to send to" names pop in the senders' heads.

For some reason, I have never been a fan of tree branches or stems holding birds or flowers - and especially those with a bad script font on the cover. It's not that hard to get a little more creative in these areas - or at least ask someone that has a little design sense to help out. I just feel that branches or sticks are a sell-out.

Then there are those cards that have random angels or other icons of the season on them that either offend someone or make someone else feel guilty that they haven't gone to church in a while (not me, of course).

I always love the cards that make me laugh and have a joke or some other satirical notion on the cover. Holidays gone wrong or satirical twists on the "Joy" of the season are always winners, in my book.

Don't get me wrong. It is nice to be remembered and thought of during this time of year and I am grateful to actually receive some cards from people I know. There are also some good designs out there that may even prompt people to display or place on the mantel.

We just need to remember to recycle these cards, creative design or not. It's sad for me to think that there are trees out there that actually gave their lives for a poorly-designed card. Let's all think about the cards we received - and sent - this year and remember to think a little more carefully in the future.