Question: How Long Do You Keep Love One’s Cards?

For MamaJD’s complete post, click here

My husband and I were out of town over Valentine’s Day. We planned ahead and I received a card from Darling, Love Of My Life (DLOML). We sarcastically refer to each other this way often. It is an homage to the Kubrick version of the movie The Shining, when Jack Nickolson goes on a possessed rampage against his wife. We impersonate Nickolson as we call each other this term of endearment. I love my DLOML — he has a good sense of humor. Mentioning Jack Nickolson in The Shining may provide some insight on how we feel about Hallmark card storage and whether or not there is an expiration date. I mentioned to DLOML as we got home, that I really liked my Valentine card AND I brought mine home. I knew this would get him and he rose to the challenge. DLOML needs a ruling. If someone could help us out. How long do you keep cards? — MamaJD.

DFO: I feel guilty when I throw out cards from loved ones. That’s one of the reasons why my wife and I don’t buy each other cards. I wrote Brenda a love letter for Valentine’s Day this year instead.

Question: So … what is appropriate? Keep the cards? Throw away the cards after an extended period of time? If so, for how long? What about only keeping the cards that, as a receiver, mean the most? What if I am caught throwing out a card? Doesn’t this say, “Thanks for the card but it just wasn’t as meaningful as Valentines Day 2003?” If I just had a rule, then we could get on with it guilt free. We need a ruling, please!