Star Tribune
The card has become an informal catalog of gentle fun, full of kidding and jibes between Hamilton and his sister-in-law Madolyn Mann. Only once since the exchange began did the card disappear, but it was found tucked in some papers.

Tom Hamilton of Mora, Minn., turns 80 on June 7, but his best gift arrived last Thursday. It was a birthday card from his sister-in-law, Madolyn Mann, who lives in Pharr, Texas.

"Happy Birthday to a good-looking relative," the card says. The inside inscription reads: "Save this card. You can send it to me on my birthday."

Be careful what you wish for.

Hamilton and Mann, who turned 79 on May 7, have sent this very birthday card back and forth since 1975, when a postage stamp cost 10 cents. After 73 trips through the U.S. mail, the gently taped-together card from Hallmark's "contemporary" line looks pretty good. Hamilton, a cancer survivor, does, too. "I can still touch my toes," he said.

Hamilton and his wife of 60 years, Gwen, never imagined their little joke would go this far. "I had no idea it would keep going," said Gwen, who is Mann's sister. "It's just continued and continued. One year I thought that I had lost it and I was just sick about it. We can't lose that card!" She found it tucked behind some other papers, and off it went.

Over the years, the sisters have documented in neat cursive hand-writing the card's arrival in Texas in May and in Minnesota in June, under the heading, "Card History."

Star Tribune
Tom Hamilton of Mora, Minn., with his wife Gwen, has been sending this birthday card to Gwen’s sister — and getting it back — every year since 1975. The card has been mailed 73 times.

"Tom has horrible handwriting," Gwen said. "I would never let him do it."

"I'm like the guys who signed the Constitution," Tom agreed. "Can't read any of it."

First time: June 7, 1975 ... Fourth time: May 7, 1977 ... 13th time: June 7, 1981 ("The big 5-0 for you, Tom!")

20th time: May 7, 1985 ("This card has really held up"); 38th time: May 7, 1994 ("Happy Social Security Day"); 43rd time: June 7, 1996 ("Happy Medicaid Birthday"); 50th time: May 7, 2000 ("A new century, but the same old card").

"Sometimes, it's hard to think of something clever to write," Gwen said.

Mann and her husband, Arvid, first sent the card to Hamilton for his 44th birthday. "Happy 39th!" his sister-in-law joked. A year later, Hamilton mailed the card back with a message from Gwen: "Bet you didn't think we'd hang onto this card so long, but it was something we could use for more than a one-shot deal. Ha ha! Happy Birthday."

For the past 10 years or so, the card has held two crisp one-dollar bills. So far, neither birthday kid has spent them.

Gwen and Tom were sweethearts at Minneapolis' Central High School. He worked for 37 years as a trucker. She worked as a printer and supervisor at LifeTouch. They're the parents of two children, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Now retired, they winter in Florida.

Madolyn and Arvid moved to Texas 23 years ago. They have two sons, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Mann also never imagined that the card swap with her brother-in-law would "go to this level." But it makes sense to her, "because we're both still alive."

Mann celebrated her birthday with a quiet dinner out. Hamilton will do the same Tuesday. Then Gwen will safely tuck away the world's most-handled birthday card until next May, when she hopes inspiration will strike.

She could always go the short-and-sweet route, which her sister did this year. Mann's greeting to Hamilton attests to the joys of family love, a playful spirit and continued good health.

"73rd time," Mann wrote. "June 7, 2011. Happy 80th!! Love to you, A & M"

Gail Rosenblum • 612-673-7350 gail.rosenblum@startribune.com