jeniwren@compuserve.com
The other day I received an electronic card in my email box from a friend. Or rather, I received the URL and access code required to pick it up from http://www.123greetings.com. I went out and picked it up, smiling for the thoughtful gesture. It really was thoughtful; I'd had a bad day and my friend knew it. The card was a pick-me-up.
The site offered to let me send a card in return and allowed me to choose from many different topics just like a real card shop would. I was grateful for being thought of at just the right time, so I thought I would show my appreciation by returning a card. There were many categories to choose from: Love, Friendship, Sports, Movies, etc.
One category stopped me in my tracks: Marry Me. WHA--? What kind of cretin would seriously propose marriage via an electronic card? I would think a paper card would be bad enough, but electronic?? How sterile and unromantic can you possibly get??
Still, I was curious to see how many different ways you could propose through this site, so I went on to build the rest of the card. I could choose the background image or color, the font colors and the main image. I could choose a general marry me message from their selection, or I could make one up on my own (scary stuff, to be original with something of this importance). Finally, I could choose the forms of address and signature (ie. Dear/Dearest/Hello Mr. X and With Love/Ever Yours/Regards, Me) or specify my own. Then it built the card for me. I must admit, if I do say so myself, that I built a very appealing electronic marriage proposal.
I reviewed it and thought, oh what the hell, I'll send it! So I did.
The best part about the whole experience was the prompt I received after it was sent: "Do you wish to send the same card to another address?"
I'm still waiting for my reply. Do you think he'll say yes? ;-)
[Rave Mode OF..wait a minute...why stop thinking of good things to say?]
