David Ellis Dickerson is a former Hallmark greeting card writer and the creator of a YouTube series, Greeting Card Emergency. He gives host Rachel Martin a primer on the perfect Valentine's Day card and addresses some sticky situations that may require special cards.
RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: There are only two days left until that most romantic of holidays - depending on your perspective - Valentine's Day. We have got just the thing to get you in the mood to send the perfect card to your loved one. David Ellis Dickerson is a former greeting card writer for Hallmark, and the author of a memoir called, "House of Cards." He's with us today from St. Alban's, Vermont. Welcome to the program, David.</s>DAVID ELLIS DICKERSON: Howdy, Rachel. It's good to be here.</s>RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: So, how important is Valentine's Day to the industry?</s>DAVID ELLIS DICKERSON: It's a very big deal. It is also, after Christmas, the holiday that is most fun to write for.</s>RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: Why is that?</s>DAVID ELLIS DICKERSON: Almost every other holiday, like Mother's Day, you're writing for people who have uncertain relationships. But love is always good, for the most part. It's a fun place to be.</s>RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: If someone wants to send a valentine to their loved one, what should they look for?</s>DAVID ELLIS DICKERSON: A card is a keepsake. What a lot of guys do, they'll go for the most expensive and the showiest and it's actually often kind of gaudy. A more thoughtful card that's just a little bit smaller and has more words, if you just take the time to pay attention to what the words are actually saying - that might help.</s>RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: So, we should point out, David, that you have a Web series on YouTube. It's called Greeting Card Emergency. You solve the thorniest of greeting card dilemmas. I've got an awkward situation for you.</s>DAVID ELLIS DICKERSON: Sure.</s>RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: When I was in high school, we had a dog named Sophie. On this particular day, my sister looked at her boyfriend and she said you're going to visit your parents. Just take the dog. The dog is bugging me. So, the boyfriend takes the dog to his parents' ranch - you know, we're from Idaho. A lot of people have ranches - and he opens the door of the truck and Sophie, the little Scottie dog, runs off into the corral and meets her demise...</s>DAVID ELLIS DICKERSON: Oh my god.</s>RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: ...at the kick of a horse. It was very, very sad. That's bad enough. But just to make it interesting, David, let's pretend that it was also Valentine's Day. What is the greeting card that's appropriate?</s>DAVID ELLIS DICKERSON: Wow. OK. The way you do a valentine for that, I think, is change the subject, and at the same time you can't ignore the elephant in the room. You'd want a card that emphasizes forgiveness, the way that we get along, the ups and downs of a relationship. I think you'd say something like: We all know that love has its ups and downs. I never wanted to be one of the downs. But I guess this is the test.</s>RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: Wow.</s>DAVID ELLIS DICKERSON: Thanks.</s>RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: Well done, David. Well done. That was not an easy scenario and you met the challenge. David Ellis Dickerson. His memoir is called "House of Cards," and you can see his Web series, Greeting Card Emergency, on YouTube. David, thanks so much.</s>DAVID ELLIS DICKERSON: It was a pleasure, Rachel.</s>RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: Happy Valentine's Day.</s>DAVID ELLIS DICKERSON: You, too.