One of the more memorable cards I’ve received was shortly after a mishap. A timing issue. A misalignment in travel plans—it was the worst (relax, I’m exaggerating). And while the whole experience felt trivial in that moment, the memory stands grand in part because of this card.

Admittedly, I don’t remember exactly what the card said, but it was something along the lines of “Sorry, it didn’t work out.” A little humor/humour can go a long way.

Had I taken Ashley Cleek’s advice, I would’ve saved this card so I could reminisce in great detail at a whim’s notice. Ashley saves her cards, birthday cards especially, nestled away like treasures, each one a tiny fragment of memory, placed in a small red suitcase, ready to be opened like a time capsule at a moment’s notice. Imagine flipping open a clasp, sifting through years of celebrations, apologies, inside jokes, and love, each card a miniature relic of a moment that would otherwise be lost.

Ashley is our guest in this month’s episode, and her story is about more than keepsakes. It’s about memory, family, and what it means to share a birthday not just with the world, but with her own son.