Now this is what i call obssesive recycling!

[Fern]

From Yahoo News....

ABILENE, Texas - Glendell Smith should be able to recite word-for-word the greeting on one of the birthday cards he expects to get for his 63rd birthday Thursday.

After all, the card has been showing up each year for 42 years.

His brother, Everett, 65, who lived in El Paso and worked as a barber, first sent Glendell the card in 1964. Everett bought it for 15 cents and mailed it for a nickel.

Glendell, who was a student at McMurry University in Abilene at the time, mailed it back for Everett's birthday in February 1965.

"Where have I seen this card before?" Everett recalled asking himself.

The answer was simple.

"Glendell was always kind of a joker," Everett told the Abilene Reporter-News in Thursday's editions.

The brothers have always added messages to the card, which is now laminated. When there was no more space, they added handwritten notes. Now, there are six small note pages attached.

And they've only had one major scare.

In 1998, Glendell didn't include an apartment number when he mailed the card to El Paso. The card came back 10 days later. Glendell, still a coach and teacher in Amarillo, delivered it by hand a short time later.

"I almost cried when I saw the card," Everett told the newspaper. "I thought it was gone forever."

[Ima saver]

My girlfriend and I do this on a small scale. We mail each other cards, but use post it notes and use a larger envelope so we can re use the cards again!!

[PRICEPLUS]

That is rerally neat!

[abowers]

my parents have done this with a couple they have been friends with for a while -- they have sent the same card back and forth on eachother's anniversary (they were both in eachother's weddings) since their first wedding anniversary (this year that will be 24 years.)

[TBH]

What a great story! There are a few cards I bought years ago for specific occasions but couldn't bear to give them up. They're getting sort of well-loved from being shuffled around in my desk drawer. If I knew they were coming back, though, I could have sent them to the person they were originally intended for.

[nanamom]

When I was a kid my sister was grown and gone. Every year we sent the same box back and forth at Christmas. It was fun to pick something that would fit in the box. My daughter and I did it for awhile too. I bought a (10 cents) book on recycling the other day and it took things to great lengths. Did you know you can make furniture out of newspapers?

[Thrifty Ray]

What started as a simple card has turned into an heirloom...think about all the messages that must be on that card....and talk about one of a kind. WOW.

In the process of having some fun and saving a little in the process, they created something very, very valuable in sentiment.

Great story, thanks for sharing.

[Ima saver]

Well, when your underwear gets dirty, you can wear it inside out.

I am just kidding!!

[Thrifty Ray]

LOL.....where did THAT come from you nut!!!

For all the guests reading this thread, we usually keep a tighter reign on Ima Saver....she got loose for a minute there....

LOL, LOL......chuckle...

[Ima saver]

Well half the time I wear it inside out even when it is clean!

[Thrifty Ray]

Ok...there is such a thing as OVERSHARING....giggle...LOL...ROFL...
(only so funny because I am sure this is common, just not admitted..lol)

[asmom]

Oh now that's just so sweet!

[Tree0164]

I think that is very sweet!

[elcheapo]

ditto the sweet part