Apr 1, 2025 – While living in Chicago in my 30s, I had surgery for a deviated septum. Friends and family were kind and supportive, calling to ask how the surgery had gone and how recovery was going. When I shared with a friend, “It is so, so painful,” Dennis nailed it with, “No wonder! It’s like they ran a big ol’ Roto-Rooter up there!”
I felt lucky to be able to hole up in the Lincoln Park high-rise that I called home. My friend Ted dubbed the pool in the atrium on the 44th floor “our womb” because the air and water temps both were kept near 90 degrees; on cold winter nights, we’d suit up and stretch out on the chaise lounges to watch the snow swirl and traffic snarl outside.
My only issue was that few of my more than 500 neighbors were very neighborly. That became painfully obvious in the elevators as I went to and from doctor’s appointments with the bandage covering half my face; my fellow passengers kept their eyes on the floor indicator, or the floor, their wrist watches, shoes, looking anywhere but at me.
Returning from a particularly rough appointment one afternoon, I entered an empty elevator and leaned into the corner, eager to be carried home. Just as the doors were closing, an arm popped them back open and in hopped a lycra-clad bicycle messenger still wearing his helmet. It took him a sec to spot me scrunched up there in my corner, and he was understandably taken aback, but that sweet man looked me straight in the eye and in his Aussie accent cooed, “Poor Baby!!! You must feel aaawful.”
Ha! In a voice dripping with desperation and appreciation, I bellowed, “Thank You!!! Yes, I do. Miserable, actually. And you are the first person in this whole big building to acknowledge that you’ve even seen me much less express empathy. Thank you!!!”
That was at least 30 years ago now, yet I remember the exchange as if it were yesterday. The black lab puppy card above came to be a decade later because of the way I felt being seen by that kind-hearted messenger. And, needless to say, there are a great many people out there who could use an “I see you” card these days. So many are going through so much, if only we can take the time to stop and see and feel.
Cardie Karen Trostle sums it up beautifully. “A card! In the mailbox! That you can open when you have the strength or the sanity. A Card! That’s NOT a bill or some other reminder that the journey can be physically, emotionally, and financially heart-breaking. A Card! That expects nothing in return and gives love, support, and validation.”
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
Apr 1, 2025 – While living in Chicago in my 30s, I had surgery for a deviated septum. Friends and family were kind and supportive, calling to ask how the surgery had gone and how recovery was going. When I shared with a friend, “It is so, so painful,” Dennis nailed it with, “No wonder! It’s like they ran a big ol’ Roto-Rooter up there!”
I felt lucky to be able to hole up in the Lincoln Park high-rise that I called home. My friend Ted dubbed the pool in the atrium on the 44th floor “our womb” because the air and water temps both were kept near 90 degrees; on cold winter nights, we’d suit up and stretch out on the chaise lounges to watch the snow swirl and traffic snarl outside.
My only issue was that few of my more than 500 neighbors were very neighborly. That became painfully obvious in the elevators as I went to and from doctor’s appointments with the bandage covering half my face; my fellow passengers kept their eyes on the floor indicator, or the floor, their wrist watches, shoes, looking anywhere but at me.
Returning from a particularly rough appointment one afternoon, I entered an empty elevator and leaned into the corner, eager to be carried home. Just as the doors were closing, an arm popped them back open and in hopped a lycra-clad bicycle messenger still wearing his helmet. It took him a sec to spot me scrunched up there in my corner, and he was understandably taken aback, but that sweet man looked me straight in the eye and in his Aussie accent cooed, “Poor Baby!!! You must feel aaawful.”
Ha! In a voice dripping with desperation and appreciation, I bellowed, “Thank You!!! Yes, I do. Miserable, actually. And you are the first person in this whole big building to acknowledge that you’ve even seen me much less express empathy. Thank you!!!”
That was at least 30 years ago now, yet I remember the exchange as if it were yesterday. The black lab puppy card above came to be a decade later because of the way I felt being seen by that kind-hearted messenger. And, needless to say, there are a great many people out there who could use an “I see you” card these days. So many are going through so much, if only we can take the time to stop and see and feel.
Cardie Karen Trostle sums it up beautifully. “A card! In the mailbox! That you can open when you have the strength or the sanity. A Card! That’s NOT a bill or some other reminder that the journey can be physically, emotionally, and financially heart-breaking. A Card! That expects nothing in return and gives love, support, and validation.”
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
Being seen & appreciated exactly as you are :)
That brings great joy and lasts forever.
Shalom.
I see you my friend.
Beautiful opening story. Only you (Jodee) can tell a story like that!
Thank you!!
Thanks for sharing that great story! A card favorite that I will now really know the meaning behind it. I can think of a few people I can send that to. Hope you’re doing well!
Expressing empathy, something so lacking in our world right now. So glad you were comforted by the acknowledgement of your pain. Recently I had MOHS treatment on skin cancer on my face. It’s right under my eye and so I look like I went several rounds in a boxing match. It’s been interesting to me that when strangers see me, they look away. Only one person was brave enough to ask “what happened to you?”
I too, know many people who would embrace the card above, thank you for bringing it to our attention.