To Christmas Card or not to Christmas Card…

       That is the question!

 

Tomorrow is December 1 and happily, I have already received two Christmas cards. I’m one of those people who enjoys getting the cards. I mean, if you love Christmas like I love Christmas, you probably love Christmas cards too.

My traditions have gone from cards, to newsletters, to cards with newsletters, to nothing, to cards, with short notes, to cards, to nothing to newsletters only, to cards to out-of-towners only, to those who mail cards to me and the cycle has gone around and around.

The truth is, if I could get my act together, everyone would get a card. I love getting mail and a personal note and I do send them all year long, but the task of mailing a boatload of cards at once can get overwhelming.

As a family, we opted for the newsletter because we didn’t see people frequently and I didn’t have time to do a recap in every card. People made fun of me and by people, I mean my family, because over the years, they had gotten some doozies of Christmas letters. Some were written with each month’s activities/events highlighted. Some were multiple pages, some were the medical history of their friends, detailed medical histories and some even included a picture or two from the x-rays or operating room. Yeah, kind of gross! So, these newsletters became jokes and opportunities to have comedic/dramatic readings around the Christmas tree when we were all together. I’m sure you can picture it!

My family would hear from other people about my letters and soon, they wanted copies. So, I would give in and sometimes, my newsletter would become part of the comedic/dramatic readings. Nice!

I always had good intentions and would start the letter early but despite those intentions, the letters would be late becoming the final project and would go out the week before Christmas, although there was an occasional early mailing. One year, there was a New Year’s card because I just couldn’t get it done.

Now that I’m in Louisville, a lot of the people I used to send notes to, live here and I do see them. My Cincinnati friends are now the out-of-towners, among others, and some people have dropped off of the list but they may not know why. In addition, there is always an awkward moment trying to decide if some people are still considered to be in my life!

Putting all of this history behind me, it’s a new year, and I will be sending cards, probably to the out-of-towners but if you don’t get one, don’t take offense. It’s a little bit “missing you,” a little bit “we need to catch up,” a little bit “we just saw each other,” and a little bit random!

With all of this said, these are my intentions. Every day is a new day in this household and some days it’s easier to get cards ready to mail than others. I have purchased Christmas stamps so I’m one step closer. I have purchased my favorite cards from COSTCO, and I have started a short update because I do know that I won’t be able to get a special note put into each card with the updates.

If all of these things can come together at the right time, I’ll be able to accomplish this wish of mine…to get the cards out in a timely fashion!

As I sit here and watch the Christmas in Rockefeller Center, I’m feeling hopeful and that’s really all a girl can ask!

I’m not requesting cards or newsletters from any of you but know that if you do send them, they are treasured! And if you don’t get a Christmas card from me…don’t be surprised if you get a love note sometime during the year.

Let the card writing begin! Stay tuned for other holiday updates!! It is the most wonderful time of the year!!