Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Long-Distance Birthday Greetings

I recently learned that Son Tony's MIL (wife Ie's mom) is celebrating a milestone birthday soon. She lives with one of her sons not too far from Tony and his family in California. I've met her several times, and she is a very nice person. However, there is a pretty big language barrier between us; she immigrated with her family to the US from Southeast Asia after the Vietnam War and her English is still broken.

Hubby Tony and I wanted to do something to celebrate the event, so we went to a local store and bought a card with the a representation of the Gateway Arch, the landmark synonymous with St. Louis. Inside I wrote Happy Birthday from St. Louis Missouri, and added our names.

I put the card into the envelope, but didn't seal it. Instead, I slid the envelope into a larger one and added a note to Ie, asking her if she could translate our words and add them to the card before giving it to her mom.

18 comments:

  1. That is a meaningful card and will be nice when it is translated into her language.

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  2. Very beautiful and sensitive movement!!!

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  3. Kay of Musings: That’s such a wonderful, thoughtful thing to do.

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  4. That's a lovely gesture. What a generous person you are.

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  5. A perfect card. this is so thoughtful of you and Tony. I know she will certainly be happy to receive this nice Birthday greeting..

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  6. Where did the family come to when they entered the US? I know many landed in the midwest before coming on to California.

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    1. Yes, their first stop was Minnesota. Not sure when they moved west.

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  7. Awww that was kind of you - taking that extra step! Just think if we all took those extra steps…

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  8. That was nice. I'm sure she'll appreciate that.

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  9. That's a beautiful card greeting! My nephews wife's parents don't speak any English. When they visit, I first tried learning some portugeese to communicate a little, but then just used translate app on phone.

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  10. The practice of sending Cards is waning and I always think it's something worth preserving, having it translated is just that special touch that will surely be appreciated. I was fortunate that there are Cards in Spanish in Arizona so whenever the other Grandmother was being sent a Card from us, we could get one in her language and that of the Grandkids South of the Border who only speak and understand Spanish.

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    1. I think there are Spanish cards even in my area

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  11. Good plan. But I'm surprised that her English isn't better because she's been here a long time. The Vietnam War was a lifetime ago.

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    1. It was, but I believe she lived around and worked with people of her heritage.

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  12. I love the card & it will be such a sweet gesture. I'm sure she'll be touched by the thoughtfulness.

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