I love getting holiday cards. Finally some mail that’s cheerful and fun and personal!
.
I received a card yesterday from a close relative, one of those studio photo montages of the family in their finery. Flipped it over to read the message, and it was just blank.
Oh.
I’ve been checked off a list.
I was really irritated. From cousins I’ve seen twice in my life one might expect a simple signature. But after having sent a package of cottony/wooly items of my own design and execution, plus some chocolates (they will like the chocolates, at least) off to them just last week, it’s kind of a splash of icewater to get this card. I was hoping for a letter, some news, something personal that confirms yes, we are family.
Then I remind myself that it’s not a race, no scorecard. So what if I sent them something? That’s up to me. There’s no quid pro quo going on.
I received a card yesterday from a close relative, one of those studio photo montages of the family in their finery. Flipped it over to read the message, and it was just blank.
Oh.
I’ve been checked off a list.
I was really irritated. From cousins I’ve seen twice in my life one might expect a simple signature. But after having sent a package of cottony/wooly items of my own design and execution, plus some chocolates (they will like the chocolates, at least) off to them just last week, it’s kind of a splash of icewater to get this card. I was hoping for a letter, some news, something personal that confirms yes, we are family.
Then I remind myself that it’s not a race, no scorecard. So what if I sent them something? That’s up to me. There’s no quid pro quo going on.
.
What do holiday cards mean to me, anyway? That might have nothing to do with what they mean to my relatives.
.
In the chilly evenings of the end of the year, I like to take the time and catch up, or at least connect, with my friends and family, and writing holiday cards is a large part of that. I love to write, and all year long I tell myself I should find time to write to people (not just to the mostly invisible audience of the blog), and all year long I don’t get around to it. Card season is the warning light that I’ve really got to get down to it. Sitting in a corner of a busy pub, with a glass and a fountain pen and a stack of cards is a great way of passing an hour, repeat as necessary.
What do holiday cards mean to me, anyway? That might have nothing to do with what they mean to my relatives.
.
In the chilly evenings of the end of the year, I like to take the time and catch up, or at least connect, with my friends and family, and writing holiday cards is a large part of that. I love to write, and all year long I tell myself I should find time to write to people (not just to the mostly invisible audience of the blog), and all year long I don’t get around to it. Card season is the warning light that I’ve really got to get down to it. Sitting in a corner of a busy pub, with a glass and a fountain pen and a stack of cards is a great way of passing an hour, repeat as necessary.
.
Some years I write reams. I include extra pages in with the card, which is crammed with writing top to bottom and maybe some on the back.
Some years I write reams. I include extra pages in with the card, which is crammed with writing top to bottom and maybe some on the back.
(yes, this really did happen)
(yes, I know it’s been a while)
(No, I won’t put it in the past tense and admit it will not happen again).
Then I got busier, or tired-er, and didn’t put anything more than would fit on the left side of the card. Now I’m down to writing some heartfelt but not terribly original greetings and wishes, in script that is a bit larger than necessary, and I’ll be happy to write to everyone if even just a little bit.
What I like about sending cards is taking the time and sending a personal message. If there’s a pre-printed message, I add one of my own, but usually the whole message is mine. This is me. I’m wishing you well.
What I like about sending cards is taking the time and sending a personal message. If there’s a pre-printed message, I add one of my own, but usually the whole message is mine. This is me. I’m wishing you well.
.
What I like about sending cards is imagining my card being placed on a mantle among the others, so colorful and diverse, in a soul-warming bouquet of happiness and good thoughts.
.
There is, of course, a second motive to all this sending.
Receiving!
What I like about sending cards is imagining my card being placed on a mantle among the others, so colorful and diverse, in a soul-warming bouquet of happiness and good thoughts.
.
There is, of course, a second motive to all this sending.
Receiving!
Send me cards! Fill my mantle (actually, I string a ribbon along the wall or across the room, and hang them on it). Say hello. Say you love me and hope I have a wonderful new year.
.
