Today is July 14, which is not only Bastille Day and St. Swithin's Day, but also the anniversary of my Aunt Betty's birth.  Today she is ninety years old (while not the century mark, it is still a mean feat!).  She was supposed to have a party in her honor (and frankly most, if not all, of my extended family would have been there, too), but after her older brother (my Dad) died last month, she no longer wanted to have the party.  (You see, they were extremely close, and always were.)  She is, however,  having a small family celebration (with her two sons, wives, and family) nonetheless.  

Everyone still wanted to do something for her birthday, and it was suggested that we throw a birthday card shower. A card shower is something akin to a baby or bridal shower in that people give presents (or in this type of shower send appropriate greeting cards--gee I'm surprised Hallmark or American Greetings haven't started using this in their advertisements, but I digress).  Notices of the card shower were sent out to Aunt Betty's family and friends. 

More than that, I also posted a thread on the "Random (and Not-so-random) Acts of Bookcrossing Kindness" forum at www.bookcrossing.com about the card shower.  Because of the generosity of many bookcrossers, my aunt will receive (or have already received) cards from across the United States as well as from around the world (such as Pakistan and Australia).

I don't know how many cards Aunt Betty will receive, but I hope that it will make her feel as special as she is.  I also hope that it eases some of the pain of her loss of the (favorite) brother.  

By the way, Happy Birthday, Aunt Betty!  I love you! Enjoy your day with Mike and Judy, Pat and Beth!