Tag: personal sympathy cards

The Loss of Whitney Houston – Talent and Heart

Every year I have need for more and more personal sympathy cards. Maybe it’s because I know a lot of people or maybe because I’ve lived in a number of places. Maybe it’s just my age, but it seems that every year I learn of more deaths of people I knew. Sometimes that person is a stranger, but my sadness is real because they feel like family. Such was the case this weekend, with the sad and sudden passing of Whitney Houston.

Whitney Houston was an amazingly talented woman who, unfortunately, had her struggles though the years. While all the talk in the past few days has been about her tumultuous marriage to Bobby Brown and her issues with drugs and alcohol, I prefer to remember Whitney as a mega-talented singer and a woman who donated much of her time and money to charity.

Whitney Houston had an incomparable voice. One just had to hear the few opening notes of her classic rendition of “I Will Always Love You” to know that she had a talent second to none. What some people may not know was that she was devoted to charity giving. She ran her own organization, the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children, which helped children with such issues as homelessness, cancer and AIDS. She was also involved with other equally important causes, such as the United Negro College Fund, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and the Children’s Diabetes Foundation.

I will be writing a sympathy card for Whitney Houston, and I hope it can find its way to her daughter Bobbi Kristina, who must be devastated at the loss of her mother. So even though I never actually knew her, I choose to remember Whitney for her grace, glory and spirit. I hope you will too.

Sympathy Cards for the Loss of a Pet

Dealing with the death of a loved one is a devastating life event. We often use sympathy cards to connect with people during these difficult times. I often feel that I should not approach someone in person as I do not want to make them cry as well. I cannot do it myself without breaking down into tears. How do you tell someone how sorry you are for their loss? Sometimes it is easier to express your feelings in personal sympathy cards.

It is equally devastating when a person loses their pet. Pets have become important members of many American families, providing enjoyment, companionship, and unconditional love for their owners. There are now all kinds of services for pets including health insurance, day care, “hotels” instead of kennels, and even greeting cards.

As my own children grew up and moved out on their own, I began to acquire cats. Actually, the cats somehow found me, probably knowing what a soft heart I have when it comes to four-legged, furry friends. Both of my children brought home a stray cat before leaving home, so my two cats eventually became the four I now have. Over the years, I have lost three cats and was devastated for a long time after each of them passed on. Princess, Callie, and most recently Baby are gone now, but the mere mention of their names still brings tears to my eyes.

If you know someone who has lost a pet, do not hesitate to express your condolences by sending sympathy cards. Their pet was a very precious part of their life. It was not “just a cat” or “just a dog” and they are never replaceable because each animal is a unique being. If you cannot find the right words to express yourself in person, send sympathy cards. There are greeting cards available specifically for pet loss, but you can certainly use traditional sympathy cards. Thoughtfully chosen sympathy cards or notecards with handwritten sentiments let the recipient know you are thinking of them. Their loss is real and they need to know that others do care.