Basically she’s playing it like I have difficulty dialing the phone, because there’s no way I’d be so busy as to forget to call my mom…

What she really says is “I have been to your place SO MANY TIMES” emphasis hers, which according to Lorraine, isn’t true. The sarcasm is what makes it a PAN.

Accuse her of being over-sensitive and uncaring if you want. Excuse it all you want, but it still doesn’t change the fact that the intent does not match the result. Good manners and common decency dictate that if you can’t send somebody a birthday greeting without adding a little extra commentary, don’t bother sending it at all.

It’s in the tone of what she wrote to the owner of this site. “To be fair I haven’t had anyone over.” Mom’s exact words are, I have been to your house plenty of times but I can’t remember where I put your address. I remember where you work so here you go. Key words, “plenty of times before” that merely means that she knows her daughter loves her.

My money is also on the fact that mom is over 60 years old. People at that age forget things and lose shit. I hope everyone of you has to go through this moment with your life. That way you can wonder how you were so hard on people that were old and have to deal with an aging mind.

But since you bring up Hallmark, I think they should do more to enforce the buying of standard greeting cards. Look, the only thing that should be on a birthday card is stuff along the lines of “happy birthday, I’m glad you exist”. It’s not a space to bring up your grievances or ask the receiver to do some errands or whatever else.

On a Christmas card? Okay fine, air your damn grievances because you probably send those to people you don’t like much anyway. And if they’re family, you probably want to give them a heads up that you’re into celebrating Festivus when you see them. But leave people be on their birthday, geez.

Something like that, Brian?

In my world it’s the easiest way to a drama-free life.

The daughter knows her mother better than any of us ever could, seeing as how she’s the daughter. She has the best ability to judge what her mother intended by sending this note. Therefore, if the daughter believes the note is being passive-aggressive or a drama-inciter then she is the best judge of the note’s character.

On the other hand, that’s a million dollar idea right there.

Nothing to get worked up about.

In spite of your sensitivity to this subject I don’t see this thread turning into another catocalypse of disagreement around the meaning and consequences of the note.