A Teacher and Two Soldiers

A new customer contacted me with a request for a birthday card for her husband. He is a teacher and a Leeds United supporter, she told me, and he reads kodesh books (religious texts) all the time.
I asked my customer about her husband's favourite author and she mentioned a scholar called Professor James Kugel. I have shown her husband with one of Kugel's books in his hand and another tucked under his arm. He is wearing a Leeds United shirt and his beloved football team's badge is behind him. Finally I included a blackboard and a small pile of books to represent his profession. "Happy Birthday" has been chalked on the board.
My customer's initial reaction to the card was "It's wicked!" She later wrote that "My husband totally loved your card! He couldn't get over it!"

I heard from the same customer again shortly afterwards. "Could I put in another order for a card?" she asked me. This time she wanted a birthday card for her son who was turning 23. He is a Deputy Company Commander in the Israeli Armoured Corps (חטיבה 7) and the army is his whole life, she wrote.
I have shown the birthday boy in his olive green uniform. The pin representing the symbol of his corps can be seen on his black beret. He has a little silver Volkswagen Polo that he's very fond of, so I included that in the background as well. He is holding a bottle of his favourite beer.
The Hebrew greeting on the cards says "Happy 23rd birthday to the best Deputy Company Commander in Tzahal!" (The Israel Defence Forces are commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal צה״ל)
"We love it!" my customer wrote to me.

Eitan has received many cards of mine over the years. This is one of my favourites. Like many soldiers during the time of the coronavirus pandemic, he was stuck in the army over his birthday and for quite some time afterwards. Mum wanted a card anyway so that she could send it to him by whatsapp!
She requested a headshot of her soldier son wearing his black beret and showing his sergeant's stripes on his sleeve. She also asked me to add his unit's insignia on the card.
The Hebrew greeting says "Happy 20th Birthday Sergeant Eitan".
"He really liked his birthday card" mum later told me. As planned, she sent a photograph of it to Eitan on whatsapp and then it was waiting for him to open when he eventually got home.

* This post has been shared on Inspire Me Monday, Busy Monday, The Good. The Random. The Fun. and The Happy Now Link-Up.