Mad Men and their Mothers

I am loving this colour of green right now. In fact, as you may know, emerald has been denoted as the colour for 2013.  And this car!  It just would not be ignored.   I can say with confidence — thanks to Jackie over at Gasoline Alley Museum at Heritage Park —that is is a 1937 Hudson Terraplane.

Normally  I wouldn’t have a clue about this or any other antique truck or car (who is kidding who— that applies to current vehicles too) except that when it comes to colours and textures of things.  These matter to me. Colours and textures.  Nowhere do these things play such a focal role than in advertising.   When was the last time you took a second look at a dull, boring magazine cover or card?   Yeah, I didn’t think so.  And books.  The old saying of “don’t judge a book by its cover”  is so untrue as any good publisher will tell you.  We, the consumers,  do judge a book by the cover.  Is it visually appealing?  Does it invoke a personal connection? Something engaging?  How does it feel in my hand? Colour or two tone? Shiny or flat?  All these things advertisers think on.

Mad Men, a TV show that is set in the 1960’s, just premiered its 6th season on April 7, 2013. It would only be if you have been living under a rock that you haven’t heard of this show. Big hype happening.

It has won 15 Emmy awards and 4 Golden Globes. Influencing everything from fashion to conversations around roles of men and women in the workplace (great topic by the way). But even if you have been in the land of the living you may not, as of yet, watched the show. This would be me. I keep meaning to but it just never seems to happen.

So where am I going with all this talk of Mad Men and Mothers? Well, Mother’s Day is fast approaching and I have been thinking that it is the perfect opportunity for men to send their mother a card, a note, something handwritten. In a random, highly unscientific survey, I have been asking some men if they have ever written their mom a mother’s day card. By and large, once we get past the “what?” along with a “are you crazy?” look, they do reference their childhood as a time when they themselves wrote or made a card for their mom.

So, gentlemen out there, I encourage you, as a mom of a wee lad myself (sure hope he remembers to do this when he towers above me) to pick up a card, scrawl your name on it (of all people, you can be confident that your very own mother can decipher your handwriting) and send it on its way.  Don’t take the easy route.  Don’t get your wife or girlfriend to get the card and sign your name for you.   Forget about letting your kids write your name (it will read “from Dad” by the way) and I beg you,  don’t use the e-card option.  Now, I realize I am asking a lot here, and I am not slamming the e-card route,  but it is Mother’s Day.   It is kind of like the magnificent  1937 Hudson Terraplane or some beat up jalopy in the junk yard.  Happy writing!