Legendary cartoonist Sandra Boynton posted this weekend that it was 50 years ago this month that
“three months after my college graduation, I talked my way into a greeting card trade show at the NY Coliseum, with a small portfolio of cards in hand. There I met 3,494,312 companies who told me I was doing it all wrong. And one small company—Recycled Paper Products (started by upbeat mavericks Mike Keiser [#BandonDunes] and Phil Friedman)—who right away offered me a contract. I think it went pretty well from there. #hippobirdie to us!”
After being amused by her charming cast of characters for a half-century, I am grateful that Boynton had the strength and persistence to keep going after being turned away by 3,494,312 companies. That’s at least a couple million more rejections than I could have handled.
Every so often I will declare that in the face of stark reality, I choose whimsy. When I make that statement, I probably have a Boynton cartoon in mind. In a world where so-called leaders encourage us to go for each other’s throats, it’s good to have someone out there to remind us when it’s nnl pnnn brrrr dyy.
Congratulations to one of the true originals.
