Book excerpt: A Warm and Practical Guide to Writing the Perfect Card Message Are you at a complete loss for words when a birthday card or congratulatory card circulates at the office? When was the last time you mailed a "thinking of you" card to a faraway family member, just to say hello? What should you write to a grieving friend? How do you comfort a colleague in a time of need? Every greeting card needs a personal, handwritten message to make it complete. In this comprehensive, encouraging guide, journalist and lifestyle expert Sandra Lamb offers a wealth of advice, inspiration, and examples for anyone who wants to add the perfect personal touch to their card messages---as well as anyone who wants to know the etiquette of when and what to write. Something as small as a heartfelt message on a greeting card can help remedy our hectic, e-mail--dependent lives. Lamb provides tips and sample messages for every occasion under the sun, both happy and somber (thank-you, birthday, birth and adoption, condolence), and explains the meanings of possibly unfamiliar holidays and religious rituals to aid in the writing of appropriate messages. This personal, indispensable guide will help you rekindle the joy of putting pen to paper and truly connect with loved ones and friends.