Missing Christmas Cards
Not to be too politically incorrect, they could be "holiday" cards or "seasonal greetings, but in my mind they're Christmas cards. I miss them.
I know I'm not being ecologically friendly. It's easier to send holiday greetings through email or social media. It's cheaper. It cuts down on the carbon footprint. I know, I get it. But I still miss the cards.
I miss the envelopes that used to appear in my mailbox just after Thanksgiving (sometimes even before). I miss the red and white envelopes. I miss seeing the seasonal postage stamps. I miss reading the notes inside. I miss the photos. I miss the personalization. (It seems what few cards I do get these days either have no handwritten signature or if they do, that's all there is to it.)
It might be a sign that I am getting old. I still send them out. I dig out my "left over cards" from the previous year that I have stored away. I buy more cards. I buy holiday stamps from the post office. (Almost always buying more than I need and since I don't do much in the way of "snail mail' for the rest of the year, I end up using "holiday" stamps throughout most the year. That is until it's time to send the next batch of cards and then I don't have enough and the process starts all over again. All I can say is, thank goodness for "Forever" stamps!) I pull out my old address book. (It's the only time I seem to use it.) I cross reference my contact lists with it. I dig out red and green felt pens. And the day after Thanksgiving, I start "doing" my cards.
With the advent of social media, I no longer send out those long "here's what happened" this year letter. Most of the people know exactly what's been going on with me throughout the year. (So maybe I have cut down on my carbon footprint a bit.) However, I do write a short note inside each one. Just a quick holiday greeting, but it is heartfelt (at least by me). I want each friend to know that I really am thinking of them at this holiday time. Although I may do 20 at a clip, I put thought into each and every one that I send.
Every year I swear I am going to send less. Every year I send around the same amount. It just feels right.
For those friends who still send me Christmas cards, know that I enjoy them. If you included a note (and I hope you did), know that it is read. Know that it is appreciated.
If you were thinking about sending holiday cards this year (to me or anyone else), I say go for it. You'd truly brighten my day.
I know I'm not being ecologically friendly. It's easier to send holiday greetings through email or social media. It's cheaper. It cuts down on the carbon footprint. I know, I get it. But I still miss the cards.
I miss the envelopes that used to appear in my mailbox just after Thanksgiving (sometimes even before). I miss the red and white envelopes. I miss seeing the seasonal postage stamps. I miss reading the notes inside. I miss the photos. I miss the personalization. (It seems what few cards I do get these days either have no handwritten signature or if they do, that's all there is to it.)
It might be a sign that I am getting old. I still send them out. I dig out my "left over cards" from the previous year that I have stored away. I buy more cards. I buy holiday stamps from the post office. (Almost always buying more than I need and since I don't do much in the way of "snail mail' for the rest of the year, I end up using "holiday" stamps throughout most the year. That is until it's time to send the next batch of cards and then I don't have enough and the process starts all over again. All I can say is, thank goodness for "Forever" stamps!) I pull out my old address book. (It's the only time I seem to use it.) I cross reference my contact lists with it. I dig out red and green felt pens. And the day after Thanksgiving, I start "doing" my cards.
With the advent of social media, I no longer send out those long "here's what happened" this year letter. Most of the people know exactly what's been going on with me throughout the year. (So maybe I have cut down on my carbon footprint a bit.) However, I do write a short note inside each one. Just a quick holiday greeting, but it is heartfelt (at least by me). I want each friend to know that I really am thinking of them at this holiday time. Although I may do 20 at a clip, I put thought into each and every one that I send.
Every year I swear I am going to send less. Every year I send around the same amount. It just feels right.
For those friends who still send me Christmas cards, know that I enjoy them. If you included a note (and I hope you did), know that it is read. Know that it is appreciated.
If you were thinking about sending holiday cards this year (to me or anyone else), I say go for it. You'd truly brighten my day.
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