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A new series of greeting cards have been getting rave reviews from prison officials: designed specifically for receipt by inmates, they don’t fold up or have any pop-ups that could hide contraband — and the messages are bluntly straightforward:
The company that designs them is called Three Squares Greetings (you can order the cards from their website), and they trade on a niche that’s clearly been overlooked by the Hallmarks of the world. “Wish you weren’t there!”
The company’s founder, Terrye Cheathem, might’ve thought these cards were a little funny herself ten years ago — before her brother-in-law ended up in jail. She was asked to write him, but never knew what to say, and Hallmark cards were “way too cheerful.” According to an LA Times article, Cheatham is having some trouble selling the cards in stores; people seem reluctant to make a public acknowledgment that a loved one is behind bars. But when she starts selling the cards online November 1, she expects business to pick up.
I’m not sure I’d go so far as to say “I MUST be next,” but then again, I’m not quite sure what I’d write. Luckily, I’ve never had to think about it. Anyone else ever had a little writer’s block while penning a note to a loved one in prison? (Feel free to comment anonymously, if you feel like it.)
Comments (7)
Comment
Writer’s block, sure. I ended up mostly just sending my bad artwork. Of course, the recipient was my father whom I have never met. Prison seems as good a time as any for striking up conversation, haha…
posted by anon on 10-19-2007 at 8:47 am
I’m sorry, that last card sucks. It might as well say:
“Oh Lordy, Lordy!
Why, oh! why,
Has Jesus turned a blind eye
to my beloved
for the incarcerated now rests
not by me in my bed, but only
in the depths of my mind
and on a cold metal slab
jutting out
from the blank, glaring walls
of his prison
Oh! Lordy!
All My Love,________”
I can talk I’ve been locked up.
posted by TMo on 10-19-2007 at 12:30 pm
People who are locked up like to know what’s happening in the outside world. I’ve written to prisoners before and I just wrote about the things that were happening in my life at the time or stuff that was going on in my city, county or state at the moment and lots of trivial stuff. They like to read about anything and everything that’s going on in your life and in your neck of the woods.
posted by Melinda on 10-19-2007 at 12:41 pm
“I am sorry that it took me so long to write…. Let me know if there’s anything that I can do for you or your family.” If you couldn’t come up with that sentiment without having it preprinted on a card, you’re apparently not willing to go too far out of your way to do much of anything.
I’m sure someone who’s incarcerated would be glad for any kind of correspondence, and the idea is intriguing, but these cards just seem to fall short. And the decorative barbed wire just leaves me speechless.
P.S. “Say it ain’t so???” If you’re writing to someone in jail, it’s so!
posted by Betsy on 10-19-2007 at 1:12 pm
my brothers in prison for a life for a crime he didnt commit, try writing something about that for a card lol. i just write him letters about stuff we used to do when we were little to try and lighten his mood, and ramble on about silly things that only a sister could.
:)
sign the petition!
PetitionOnline.com/fmrfl/petition-sign.html
change some laws, free innocent people!!
posted by heather on 10-19-2007 at 2:23 pm
What if one would say….
WOW! So they finally caught you.
Hope it isn’t so harsh and you don’t get a rash. But I’m sure glad I wasn’t with you in that car.
See you in a few!
The other person.
Hee! Hee!
posted by Miss A-non-imus on 10-19-2007 at 5:04 pm
From a woman who spent time in prison I can say that the thought is really nice though I do not think there is any sentiment that can cover even a fraction of how a mother feels to be taken away from her children or a father from his. Whenever the day is over we are humans also and cry the same as you do. So come up with something that is a little more realistic and expresses the feelings of those left behind. The lost wives, children, fathers, mothers and all those who are missing part of their family.
posted by Miss. I been there! on 10-19-2007 at 9:27 pm