Ezra L – Bookends

Greetings and Salutations: Examining Authentic Emotional Communication Through Greeting Cards

Communicating emotion involves personal risk: we fill with uncertainty viewing the prospect of our words not connecting with the recipient and becoming misconstrued. In times like these, we often look into ourselves and decide how to best approach connection. But more often than not, we look beyond ourselves, to resources used regularly in everyday life. We listen to podcasts, read self-help books, and watch social media flit across our phones in search of guidance for achieving connection. The world as we know it has become a place of such guidance, saturated with brands and consumer products designed to market “advice, resources, and strategies to guarantee social connection” (West 2018). Nevertheless, there is a cost to receiving guidance in such a way. We may depend on these resources to inform our thoughts and ideas, producing impersonal messages. Greeting cards, in particular, enable easy social connection through text and images; however, they can be viewed to recipients as a generic, inauthentic gesture.

Firstly, greeting cards enable easy connection through text. In just a few words or even lines, a card can summarize the ways in which a person is appreciated, which is commonly conveyed humorously or poetically. In a card published by the Rust Craft Greeting Card Company in 1946, the text reads: “To all the loving thoughts of you/I have each day all year./I’m adding special wishes/Because your Birthday’s here:/There’s a special wish for gladness,/And a wish for new joys too,/In the loving “Happy Birthday”/I’m wishing, Dear, for you” (Shank 238). The text in this card conveys how much the receiver is loved in only a few lines. Additionally, the variety of wishes listed in the text reveals a close bond between the sender and recipient. However, most cards do not achieve this level of eloquence; rather, they use generic terms and phrases to attract consumers. This provides the illusion that the card has meaning and connection, when in reality it gives no real ‘personal and emotional depth’, thereby appearing simplistic and surface level. Succumbing to this illusion, the sender may rely on the preexisting message and feel less than willing to emote their own thoughts. This could threaten the sender’s individuality and the recipient may think that they are using the product of the greeting card to express appreciation rather than using the card as a tool. With this perspective, the recipient may also view the sender as consumerist dependent, unwilling to relay their thoughts without the aid of preexisting text.

Another example of this can be found in a current Hallmark card which reads: “Wishing a Wonderful Nephew…an equally Happy Birthday!” (Hallmark). The text found in the card sounds similar to an off-handed comment made to conclude a phone conversation. It sounds like a cliche afterthought as it “invokes a declaration and therefore renewal of existing emotional connections” (West 2018). No new comments are being made. Furthermore, the text contains no personal pronouns. The card refers to the nephew as a wonderful nephew and not my wonderful nephew. With this omission, the card reads generic and lacks any personal qualities directed towards the receiver. The recipient may feel confused by the sentiment in this card as it could be directed towards any nephew. Moreover, the receiver knows the card was purchased, but with this generic sentiment, any enclosed message is devalued. The sender had the opportunity to choose a more authentic card but rested with a card that expresses no emotion. In the eyes of the sender, sending a card is a kind gesture that generates connection but to the recipient, their message is diluted.

*You’re Wonderful* Birthday Card for Nephew

Even if greeting cards achieve any level of interpersonal connection, its text was mass produced and disseminated worldwide. Sending a greeting card may reveal the sender as someone unable to render their feelings without associating themselves with the media. In addition, greeting card makers construct their understanding of authentic emotional communication through a contradictory ideology: “each individual is unique, and yet emotions and the ways we communicate them are socially shared, even universal” (West 2018). This ideology suggests that our emotions are essentially universal, placing companies in the position to constitute and define what ‘authentic communication’ means to them. It further conflicts with the traditional approach that emotional expression should be original and individual. Greeting cards moreover violate the ideology of emotional expression as they engage consumers by browsing aisles and storefronts “for materials to express the self, thereby ceding their independence in communication” (West 2008). While the sender may have good intentions in mind, the recipient may deem a card as a generic, inauthentic gesture.

When used correctly, greeting cards also enable easy connection through the addition of visual aids. With or without a limited addition of text, images tell a story. They prescribe the emotional tone of the message and elaborate the thoughts of the sender. Oftentimes, cards include a nostalgic image which can trigger a happy memory. One such example has a drawing of a tall, frosted cake, decorated with candles, candy, stars, and the words ‘happy birthday.’ Towards the top of the cake is Woodstock, a character from “Peanuts.” For people who have read or grew up with “Peanuts,” seeing Woodstock may bring a sense of nostalgia and familiarity. Choosing a card such as this one may be considered a kind and authentic gesture since it transports the receiver to a comfortable and familiar place. It may bring them back to a so-called ‘better time.’

*Peanuts Woodstock Tweet Yourself Right Funny* Birthday Card

Many times, there is juxtaposition between the image that is placed in relation to the text, which creates two conflicting meanings of the card. When this occurs, the image stands independent from the focus of the card’s message. We see this with the popular motif of a house with a red sloping roof that bears the cover of many Christmas cards. The image showcases an idealized representation of the home and fills consumers with an attraction to rural nostalgia. When this card was first produced, “rural and small-town America was far from a contented place in the first decade of the 20th century” with farm children exiting at an alarming rate and the 1910 census recording a final majority-rural population (Gifford). The history of this image directly contradicts the idealized representation of the home since families were homeless. Even if the card maker’s intention was to promote hope and community, individuals may have been reminded of a happier time now abandoned.

*Christmas Thoughts of You* Greeting Card

We learn from these examples that greeting cards enable easy social connection through text and images; however, recipients can view them as a generic, inauthentic gesture. We learn that cards use text to summarize the ways in which a person is appreciated. However, most cards resort to using generic terms and phrases to attract consumers, supplying the illusion that there is meaning and connection. Falling ill to this trickery, the sender may rely on the preexisting text, threatening their individuality for communicating emotion. Even if greeting cards achieve any level of interpersonal connection, its text was mass produced and issued worldwide. This puts the idea of authentic communication into question as the traditional approach is to express oneself individually and originally. While the sender may have good intentions in mind, the recipient may deem a card as a generic, inauthentic gesture. We also learn that when applied correctly, images prescribe the emotional tone of the message and summarize the thoughts of the sender. Additionally, these images may trigger a happy and nostalgic feeling. Regardless, juxtaposition between the image that is placed in relation to the text may occur, creating two conflicting meanings of the card. As a result, the image stands independent from the focus of the card’s message, jeopardizing the sender’s intent of displaying an authentic gesture and distorting the entire meaning of the message.

Works Cited

Gifford, Daniel. “Christmas Cards Were America’s First Social Media.” Time, Time, 19 Dec. 2014, time.com/3639925/first-social-media/.

Hallmark. You’re Wonderful Birthday Card for Nephew.

Schultz, Charles. Peanuts® Woodstock Tweet Yourself Right Funny Birthday Card.

Shank, Barry. “Knitting the Social Lace: The Use of Greeting Cards.” A Token of My Affection: Greeting Cards and American Business Culture, edited by Robin D.G. Kelley and Janice Radway, Columbia University Press, New York, NY, 2006, pp. 218–246.

Tuck, Raphael. Christmas Thoughts of You. 1931. New York.

West, Emily. “Mass Producing the Personal: The Greeting Card Industry’s Approach to Commercial Sentiment.” Popular Communication: The International Journal of Media and Culture, Taylor & Francis, London, UK, 2008, pp. 231–247.

West, Emily, and Illouz, Eva. Understanding Authenticity in Commercial Sentiment, 2018, pp. 123–144.

Sending Greetings!

My Presentation

This past week in class, I presented my research topic about the greeting cards industry and how they are sold to enable easy connection; yet they don’t spark any real connection. I was really excited about this topic because I’ve saved every card I’ve received since I was around eleven. I am a very sentimental person and I enjoy looking back and reading what people sent me in the mail. For the presentation, I focused on text and image. Often times greeting cards appear cute and gushy because of what it said. But if we take a step back, the words don’t have any meaning. Cards use generic phrases and terms to attempt to tell a story but the words feel very surface level. I brought many examples to support my point and it was kind of fun to bash greeting cards. In my real life I have no problem with greeting cards. I purchase them for friends and family and enjoy standing in the greeting card aisle at my local grocery store.

I also discussed how images attract consumers to greeting cards. Like the text portion of my presentation, I took the class on a deep dive and conveyed how images stand independent from the text and don’t lend any meaning. I used an example of a red-roofed barn that was commonly seen on Christmas cards during the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. There are sources that discuss how this image made its mark on holiday culture but there are many interpretations as to what the barn actually represents. This opened up another can of worms when I began discussing the implications of inserting images on cards. Images are in many ways more up to interpretation than text. I argued that in order for images to achieve success on cards, they need to be a product of the text’s meaning.

As I continue writing my paper, I’m interested in discussing how the mass production of greeting cards impacts the connection we anticipate to derive when looking for connection.

My Thoughts

When I concluded my presentation, I was unsure of my performance. I was positive that I could convey all of my information in the appropriate time frame but then Tina cut me off. I left the podium a little frazzled and confused. Where had the time gone? Was I speaking nonsense? Was a speaking coherently? Some of my peers whispered to me that they had enjoyed the information I had presented but I was still unconvinced. After reading the comments on the TAG feedback, it appeared that people enjoyed my information but I still need to clarify some of my points. I entered this presentation with an incomplete paper and didn’t have all the information to necessitate a well-rounded explanation. I am looking forward to expanding my explanation in my paper as I prepare to submit later this week.

Dear Mrs. Allen,

This past week was Thanksgiving break and it was my first time returning home since school began. It was a surreal experience to see my mom, dad, sister, and dog. During all of the time I spent at home cooking, baking, and spending time with my family, I couldn’t help but think about the spirit of Thanksgiving which is expressing your gratitude. Besides for my family and friends, I am incredibly thankful for my high school teachers who prepared me for college. I am especially grateful who my Junior and Senior literature teacher, Mrs. Allen, who I addressed my gratitude letter to.

Mrs. Allen is a very special person to me. She really enhanced my writing abilities and made me more consciously aware of how to structure my thoughts on paper (or on a computer screen). Besides for all of the writing lessons and skills I gained from her, I had many memorable and heart-to-heart conversations with her. She is a very personable person (funny play- on- words) and it was always very easy to express my feelings to her. We would often speak during Homeroom and Advisory Period about things that were bothering us–different students, teachers, pet peeves, TV shows–you name it, we talked about it. I am incredibly grateful for her as a person, teacher, and a friend.

Representation Makes the World Colorful

Among the many activities we did this past week in class, we read two entertaining epistolary children stories on Thursday. The first story we read, The Jolly Postman, weaved several nursery rhymes and stories together to tell an interesting and revamped narrative. The Day the Crayons Quit was the second story we read and my personal favorite. I had never heard the story before and was surprised when many had. The stories I grew up with were in my mind the classics of children’s literature: When You Give a Mouse a Cookie, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Goodnight Moon. I buckled up, strapped myself in, and was ready to hear the story.

Wow, what a story! But don’t fret, I’m about to summarize it for you. The story takes the perspective of the crayons as they communicate their issues of how Duncan, their owner, uses them. The story is very colorful as each crayon color addresses how it wishes to be used. When the story began, I immediately knew that the story would be very comedic and the dialogue mirrors that of a Seinfeld stand-up routine.

The white crayon is utterly confused for why Duncan uses it. It hardly ever gets a presence on the page because Duncan always uses a white background as opposed to black. It also complains that white is only ever used to color snow or fill in empty space. The purple crayon appreciates that it’s Duncan’s favorite but is ready to throw a fit if he doesn’t begin to color in between the lines. Examples like these made me think that perhaps these colors are a a metaphor for life. These colors represent different groups and demographics of people who may be misrepresented. There are many examples in the story when the different crayon colors bash Duncan for his lack in using its color and using it incorrectly. We find this similarly in culture and especially in media when a specific group of people is targeted because there is hate and many times misunderstanding. If we could all maybe be a little bit more kind, respectful, and thoughtful to those around us, I think the world would be a better place and filled with a little bit more color. And I think the crayons would find grace with this sentiment as well.

Diving into the Job Pool

This past week in class we discussed life after college. I was taken aback that we were already talking about post-graduate life. We just arrived at Muhlenberg ten weeks ago! Why the rush? Although I was surprised, I soon appreciated the discourse which occurred. I was given some time to think about my college timeline and what exactly I wish to accomplish in the next three and a half years. Since middle school I’ve wanted to pursue a degree in English and Creative Writing because I enjoyed my English classes. Despite the fact that I have received criticism as to why I would pursue such a degree with a low salary, these comments don’t sway me but rather encourage me to continue working hard to fulfill my dreams. What dreams you ask? Read the rest of this post to find out.

After college I would like to work as a Television comedy writer. It is extremely difficult to achieve success as a writer in show business but I have long been fascinated with TV production, and more specifically with the construction of character development, storylines, conflict and humor. I want to work in a creative environment and not in a cubicle. Having the ability and opportunity to work in a writer’s room would fulfill my creative dreams. I grew up watching my dad, an advertising writer, create the most incredible scripts and incorporate humor at the same time. On school holidays, I would go either to his office and watch him write or go to a Downtown Dallas editorial studio and watch editors masterfully cut commercials. These memories and experiences have without a doubt informed my decision to go into this field.

However, my real dream is to work as the camp director at the summer camp I attend. I have been interested in the camping industry for many years and I would also like give back to an institution which gave me so many life experiences. Camp has been my creative playground and working as the camp director would enable me to further add my creative flavor on a greater scale. Pursuing a degree in English would certainly assist me because camp director’s communicate regularly with the parent body, staff members, fundraising partners and vendors.

Cover Letters

After reading two articles from The Muse and Allison Green, I gained valuable tips for writing a personal and professional cover letter. A cover letter is more than just a résumé. It is a helpful way to introduce yourself and express your personality in addition to listing your job in a résumé. It’s not only important to write why you would be good fit for a job but it’s also important to convey why you would be a valuable asset to the entire company. When hiring employees, employers are also looking to see that you have good values in addition to past job experiences. A person may do their job well but employers need to know that they treat others with dignity and respect. An interesting tip I learned is to include comments said by colleagues, as it proves to the employer that your talents and skills are recognized by others. Even including a positive office nickname may leverage your chances of acceptance. Another interesting tip I learned is to use similar language found in the job description and the company’s mission statement to convey that your values are clearly aligned with that of the organization. This shows that you’ve researched thoroughly and your commitment for wanting such a job at a company.

It’s in the Cards for the Buyer

I’m interested in learning about the history of the greeting card industry and the profound impact it has had and continues to have on American culture. I want to argue that greetings cards give individuals the ability to connect with others more easily because of the variety of cards which are available. I find it easier to send a message to someone when its their birthday or their anniversary because I have a reason to communicate with them.

It is almost like greeting cards exist as the middleman between the sender and recipient. If the sender is uncomfortable with sending their own card, they can always turn to greeting cards which showcase cute personalization. The companies which create and distribute the cards such as American Greetings and Hallmark, create cards for any occasion that reflect any type of emotion the recipient may be feeling. This personalization enables the sender to send a message and doesn’t take away from the personal aspect that sender can add. Sending different styled cards

If you walk into almost any supermarket, there is almost always a greeting cards aisle or section. It would be interesting to discuss why this industry has exploded into supermarkets and why there aren’t individual greeting card stores. Perhaps to make greeting cards more accessible to the buyer they are placed in common locations where people go such as grocery stores? I think it would also be interesting to discuss the appeal of paper greeting card compared to e-cards.

Branch Closing (Inspiration taken from The Office)

Michael’s Computer-Notes App

February 4, 2023 | 10:30 AM

Well, gosh. I am triggered. I just finished up a meeting with Jan, the Vice President of Sales, who informed me that there would be some office restructuring occurring in the coming weeks. At first blush, I was excited. There would be an office merger and new people would join our office family. I have always enjoyed meeting new people and I am always looking for new friends. When Jan mentioned that my branch would be closing down in the next three weeks, I couldn’t believe it! I was stunned. I’m still stunned. After everything I’ve done– seven years as a salesman and now five as Regional Manager– corporate decides to slash my kingdom with a machete.

I am a 44-year old white man who has given his all to this company. I bring a flavor of inclusivity that can’t be found anywhere else. Everyone here loves me! I can see the admiration they have for me in their eyes. I know they are thinking, “Wow, what a bro boss. He just gets us and makes the world make sense.”

Jan told me in confidence not to tell anyone in the office about this until an official letter is sent out by the corporate office. But these are my troops. They deserve to know the truth and nothing but the truth. As I wipe the tears away from my eyes, I know that no one is going to stand in my way to tell them what’s really going on. I think they should know now. This is a family matter.

Pam’s Computer-Notes App

February 4, 2023 | 10:45 AM

No. No, no, no, no, no. How could this happen? About fifteen minutes ago, Michael stepped out of his office and started walking suspiciously around the bullpen and then around the front of my desk. I glanced over at him and inquired what the matter was. This is what our conversation looked like:

Pam: Michael, is everything alright?

Michael: Never been better. (His voice cracked and his eyes darted around when he said this).

Pam: Um, really? You’re making circles around my desk and you won’t stop making eye contact with me.

Michael: Just getting exercise. Gotta stretch the knees, you know?

Pam: So what did Jan want?

Michael: Well, you know. We were just, um, reminiscing about car dealership stories.

Pam: You were crying.

Michael: Don’t worry about it Pam. Just continue to do your work… while you still can.

Pam: Michael, is the branch closing?!?

At this point, everyone in the office jumped out of their seats and began bombarding Michael with questions. The accountants swarmed around him and wanted to know if they were safe because they are essential. The salespeople started talking amongst themselves to see if they could start their own business. The only person who seemed unphased by this was Stanley, a salesman, who began yelling with glee: “Woo, baby!”

As for me, I’m really worried about this. I really need this job. I can’t support myself with this secretarial position. I have a car. I have an apartment. I need money and the means to support myself. My parents always spoke about the importance of supporting oneself financially when working. It was only a year ago when I started accumulating enough money to set aside and put into my savings account. But now that Michael said that the branch is closing, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m going to burn through my savings. I’m really worried about this. And, what will my parents think of me? Will they see me as a failure?

Maybe I could think about this in some different way. I’ve always been unhappy working here. Michael is a jerk and he treats us all like trash. I cannot even believe that he would break the news like this. He always thinks of himself as a father figure but wouldn’t a real father be honest with their children?

When I was a little girl and we were asked what we wanted to be when we grew up, I never wrote down secretary. I never dreamed of working as a secretary. I wrote down an artist. Maybe I should walk into his office and speak my mind. I’ve always dreamed of doing that.

Okay I’m going to sign off for now. Everyone is getting pretty restless now.

Talk later.

Stanley’s Computer-Notes App

February 4, 2023 | 10:45 AM

Today’s To do list:

Pack up my stuff and try to get out of here.
Find a way to cash-in my severance check.
Buy a pontoon boat with the money and contact a realtor in Florida.
Get home and celebrate with my wife Marjorie by opening up a pack of cigars and watching that football game.

Michael’s Computer-Notes App

February 4, 2023 | 10:56 AM

Well that was not the response I was hoping to get. I figured that rallying everyone up would make this entire situation better but apparently my plan backfired pretty badly. I feel awful. Maybe if I went out there again people would feel better? There has got to be a way to convince Jan that we should remain open. Look at these people! Nobody’s going to hire another Meredith. She couldn’t be hired anywhere else. She belongs here. The same goes with Jim, Creed, and Angela, etc. Everyone does such great work here. If we close, I’m going to lose custody over these people–my children!

Maybe an email to Jan would solve this whole debacle. Yeah, that’s what I’m going to do.

Michael’s Computer-Email

From: michael@ez-zip.com

To: jan@ez-zip.com

Subject: Re: Please

February 4, 2023 | 11:00 AM

Hi Jan,

Look, please don’t be upset with me but I told everyone right after you left about the branch closing down. They didn’t take the news as well as I’d hoped and now many of them are in tears. Some are on the phone calling different jobs looking for new positions. Some are packing up their belongings. They are really upset.

I don’t understand why the branch is closing. I am a great boss here and everyone loves me. Our numbers are good. We have really good business here and our clients are happy. I implore you to please keep our branch open. Don’t you remember that we have history? Would you really like to split up my family just like you split us up?

Please Jan, please. I need this. We all need this. Please at least think about what I’m saying.

Your ex-lover,

Michael

Regional Manager of Ez-Zip Inc.

Toby’s Computer-Notes App

February 4, 2023 | 1:11 PM

From the Desk of the HR Director:

Today’s been an interesting day. Jan came into the office this morning for our monthly meeting. She usually meets with Michael first and then walks to my cubicle to discuss confidential employee matters such as payroll and recruitment. But today was different. This morning, Jan walked into my office first before meeting with Michael, which I found a little peculiar. An expression of smugness was painted on her face. After our pleasantries, we sat down. She crossed her legs and commenced to tell me that she drove down from NYC to Allentown to trick Michael into thinking that the branch was closing. She wanted to test Michael and see how he would handle such an enormous loss. You see, Michael’s entire identity is centered around this job. A normal individual with Michael’s position may have been able to take this news with grace and acceptance, but not Michael. Jan was purposely setting him up for catastrophic failure.

Now, Jan can be a lot sometimes. What she was telling me was psychotic. I knew without a doubt that Michael would be unable to keep such terrible news to himself and like a father, he would have to be transparent to everyone. This obviously led to mayhem.

I looked back at Jan who appeared unabashed from the information she had just relayed to me with shock. She was staring directly into my eyes as if trying to penetrate my soul. She was waiting for my response. I told her she was out of her mind and couldn’t go through with this idea. She picked up her purse, got up from her chair and started to walk away. I am sad to say that I was too scared to stop her. She is really intimidating and scary.

I went to Michael’s office and tried to tell him what happened. Before I even walked through the threshold, he slammed the door in my face. We are not on the greatest terms. You may ask why I didn’t tell the office? I didn’t think it was my time or place to interfere. I sometimes come across as domineering as the Director of HR, and that is not how I want to appear. Anyway, I’ve come up with a solution. I’m about to send an email to Jan’s boss, David Wallace, the CFO, and confide with him everything that I’ve witnessed. I am confident that he will take a stand.

So long for now.

Toby’s Computer- Email

From: toby@ez-zip.com

To: david@ez-zip.com

Subject: Re: Unconventional Behavior

February 4, 2023 | 1:20 PM

Dear David,

I hope you are doing well and work isn’t too hectic right now. As you know, Jan visited our office this morning for our monthly check-in. During our conversation, Jan manifested unusual behavior, telling me that she was going to trick Michael into thinking the branch was closing. I tried to convince her not to go through with this but she ultimately refused. Now, the office is in chaos. People are shocked and scared. They are unsure of where their next paycheck is going to come from. Michael, as you can imagine, tried to calm everyone down but he didn’t do a good job going about it.

I see Jan as a continued danger to our organization. Please keep me in the loop as you navigate the best path to take for solving this issue. Thank you and I appreciate your time.

Toby

Director of Human Resources

Jan’s Computer-Email

From: jan@ez-zip.com

To: michael@ez-zip.com

Subject: Re: Please

February 4, 2023 | 1:30 PM

How could you, Michael! Why did I think I could trust you with such news? You are jeopardizing everything. My position at this company is probably on the line because of you. You need to calm your staff down right now and calm yourself down as well. I know the news of your branch is grim, but as regional manager you need to unleash your leadership skills if you have any, and be a supportive and nurturing presence for your staff.

And never, and I say never, mention our relationship again. Period. That is a red line which may not be crossed.

Get to work.

Jan

Vice President of Sales

Pam’s Computer-Notes App

February 4, 2023 | 1:33 PM

Well, it’s getting worse. People are packing up their belongings. They’ve started opening up filing cabinets to recycle old forms and documents. The sound of the industrial shredder is filling the air. Stickers and flyers are being removed by the dozen from the filing cabinets, desktop computers and the communal fridge. It’s absolutely appalling.

People are not shy of vocalizing their opinions. Right now, Angela, Oscar and Meredith are standing in line outside of Michael’s office. Michael, however, has locked the door and drawn the shades. I think he’s too ashamed to face us. I feel a little bad for him but at the same time it was his poor leadership that led to this happening.

My feelings have leveled out a little bit. I’m still pretty anxious about everything but I’m more open to pursuing my interests now. I think art school may be in the cards now. I need this day to be over so I can escape this stressful atmosphere.

Talk Later.

David’s Computer-Email

From: david@ez-zip.com

To: toby@ez-zip.com

February 4, 2023 | 4:00 PM

Hi Toby,

Thank you so much for your message. I appreciate your candor and honesty about this entire situation. I know this business fairly well and I have never heard of such behavior from Jan. I emailed my colleagues and the board and we all mutually agreed that Jan will be taking a leave of absence in response to her actions. There may be questions regarding why she wasn’t terminated. I posed this as an option while discussing Jan’s potential consequences and there weren’t enough votes.

I’m going to email Michael now and let him know that the branch isn’t closing. I think it would be a good idea not to tell him that Jan was abusing him through this so-called “prank.” I think it would only make matters worse if he knew.

Again, thank you for communicating your concerns. I appreciate your partnership as we continue to navigate this interesting time.

Best,

David Wallace

Chief Financial Officer

Michael’s Computer-Notes App

February 4, 2023 | 4:20 PM

I did it! Oh my gosh, I did it! How did I do it? I don’t know how I did it but I did it! I saved the day! The branch is safe! It’s not going to close! Ahhhhhhh!!!! I’m so happy! Maybe my email to Jan actually worked. Perhaps she had second thoughts about the branch closing. But her decision sounded so definite before. Why would she change her decision? I guess my negotiation skills from being a salesman assisted me today. I’ve still got it.

Well, it’s time to tell the gang about this news. I’m sort of like Santa Claus to them right now– here to present them with the gift of employment.

It’s time to party.

Pam’s Computer-Notes App

February 4, 2023 | 4:35 PM

Pandemonium. Absolute Pandemonium. People are so happy. I’m so happy. My job is secure! When Michael walked out of his office and announced the news ten minutes ago, chaos ensued. Seats became empty as people began embracing one another. The energy in this room has been restored. Angela even started crying! I feel so much better right now, like a whale’s blowhole that has been unclogged. I can breathe again. Before I felt as if I was drowning in a sea of sadness and darkness. Now, I’m feeling great!

How Michael convinced corporate to let us stay open is a mystery to me. I don’t want to call Michael a good boss but I guess he did one thing right.

Wow, what a day. What a day.

Stanley’s Computer-Notes App

February 4, 2023 | 4:40 PM

Today’s To do list:

~~Pack up my stuff and try to get out of here.~~
~~Find a way to cash-in my severance check.~~
~~Buy a pontoon boat with the money and contact a realtor in Florida.~~
~~Get home and celebrate with my wife Marjorie by opening up a pack of cigars and watching that football game.~~

Now I have to wait until 65 to retire. Ugh.

Letter of Note: Improv Style

This past week in class, we picked a letter of note and then gave rapid-fire presentations similar to a Pecha Kucha. The letter I chose was written by Patrick Hitler to President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 3, 1942. This letter was especially interesting to read because Patrick Hitler was Adolf Hitler’s nephew and he had to convince the president for admittance into the U.S. Army. Patrick claimed that he was ideologically different than his uncle in that everyone deserves freedom. He also used “fluffy” language to prove his self-worth and admiration for Roosevelt. This language really showed a stark contrast between him and his uncle. Overall, this letter unsealed an interesting World War II story I had not heard before and it made me more curious about Patrick Hitler.

Presenting this letter was quite the exercise. I had time to collect the information I wanted to discuss before class but we were only given ten minutes in class to construct and brainstorm our actual slides. This was a little stressful but definitely an exercise in quick thinking. We were also only given three minutes for the actual presentation and that made it really fun. I was definitely up for the challenge and it felt like I was performing improv on stage. I was laser focused when I was speaking and seeing Tina’s timer directly in front of me increased my nerves and also my excitement, which was weird. Perhaps I enjoy running on adrenaline? Anyway, I got through the presentation but I do think I spoke way too quickly. After all the presentations concluded, Tina did make note that some students’ had spoken too fast. Next time, I will slow down my speech and remain more in the moment.

“The Gift”: Unwrapping Epistolary Fiction

This past week in class, we read short stories in the epistolary format. I chose a story titled “The Gift”, which comes from an anthologized volume of short stories called Astray. The story takes inspiration from a period of time in America between 1853 to 1929, when there was mass migration of children on “Orphan Trains.” A quarter of a million children were sent from Eastern cities to rural locations in the Midwest and West, as well as Canada and Mexico. The story is about a woman named Mrs. Bell who gives up her one year old child, Lily May, up for adoption and her desperate correspondences to get Lily back from her adopted family, the Bassetts.

This story really intrigued me as I was reading it. I had forgotten that this mass migration movement had happened. It is almost like it is a forgotten part of history not taught enough in schools. I hadn’t realized how many orphans there were and it made me think about the countless number of families who took these children into their homes. Did the family dynamic change drastically? Were most of the kids younger or older? How did older children adjust to this new environment. I also thought about the identity of the child: did their name change once they were adopted like Lily May? If so, how did this impact the decision? Did the adopted parents have conversations discussing this or was it decided early on. Overall, I really enjoyed this short story and I look forward to reading more epistolary fiction.

Midterm Process Letter

This past semester, I have learned quite a bit about my learning and writing styles. I work best in a quiet environment and I have taken advantage of the group study rooms in the library. I have also taken advantage of the library itself, by checking out books for projects and just walking around the stacks to pique my interest. Once I had a solid topic for my WWII paper, I browsed the stacks and garnered tremendous inspiration for my writing. Because I was writing about English Romanticism, I flipped through a variety of different sources. So interesting!

With my writing skills, I have really zeroed in on creating outlines. These outlines have helped me tremendously, as they give me the opportunity to be more clear in my writing. In an attempt to improve clarity and brevity within my writing, I have also taken advantage of the whiteboards in the library study rooms to sketch out my outlines. As a visual learner, seeing my outlines in a larger format allows me to view everything all at once and parse apart individual ideas.

In addition to creating outlines, I have improved at being less of a perfectionist in my writing. Instead of spending twenty minutes contemplating the wording of a sentence, I wrote down all of the ideas in my document. This way I could always refer to the material later and have a record of my thought process.

I have recently become obsessed with my highlighters. Whenever I find a compelling quote I want to save, I designate a specific highlighter color to represent different topics, phrases, and words. This allows me to separate my ideas more clearly. In my WWII paper, I used the color green to highlight ideas associated with nature. Not only did this help me improve my organization systematically, but it also allowed me to have fun with my learning. The symbolism was uncanny.

I experienced difficulty with choosing a topic for my WWII paper. I originally chose a topic which was going to examine the effects of trauma during the Holocaust, but I quickly retreated once I realized reading scientific articles was not for me. I also experienced difficulty when writing my conclusion paragraph. I always dread summarizing information as I am often unsure of how much to include. My outlines thankfully eliminated some of the challenges I had faced in previous essays. Another challenge I experienced was analyzing my evidence. Sometimes I am stressed that I don’t have enough analysis and I divide up my explanations within that paragraph. I initially did this in my paper but quickly stopped due to creative inspiration and research.

Based upon my blog portfolio of writing, class engagement, and completed work, I think I deserve the grade of an A. This may appear highfalutin, but I always put forth my best effort, ask good questions, and am calculating with my writing.