My oldest son took a year off before college. Not really a year "off" since the ultimate plan was that he realized life was really, really hard - particularly living in the typical teenage job market. He paid many of his own expenses. We didn't require rent - but we did require savings, and he also had chores around the house. For instance, the kitchen was required to be clean by the morning or he wouldn't be allowed meals in our house that day! He's had a job he has liked - but yesterday he was let go. It was a new grocery store in town that had hired lots and lots of people for their grand opening then they expected employee attrition as it slowed down. But employees didn't leave. My son was one of the last in - so he was the first out. And at the end of May - when all the other teenagers in town have snapped up the summer jobs. Poor guy. I guess our plan to show him that life was really, really hard has worked out almost too well.
Anyway, between the time he called and when he got home - I had 10 minutes. He knows cards are important to me so I really wanted to greet him with a thoughtful card. This set was on my desk.