Still at work here

I am still at work on Christmas cards.  (On Facebook, one friend wrote me she had just given up!)  And I notice that I am sending out quite a few more than I receive.  In this regard, I think my wife does better--getting more than sending, and it seems to me, is better able to keep up to at least this degree friendship or relationship from many decades past.

We wrote a letter about our "family" events, and have a couple photos to send out, and I am trying to use hand-written cards as well.  But I do admit that it is all something of a time-consuming and frustrating task.

Still, I do especially like the letters I have received from near and far.  A few have come by email only, but there are more that were typed.  The more "news" that the greetings contain, the more I appreciate them.

It is interesting to see what others are doing, like for example riding the Empire Builder or spending a semester in northern India or recovering from a stroke or partial knee replacement.  Taking long walks in interesting places, seeing places I've enjoyed (like Yellowstone) and others I never have and almost certainly never will.  Losing jobs, being forced to relocate or take very very long commutes. Selling property, or having difficulty doing so.

I am glad for these thoughts that are shared.  I suppose that is partly why I "blog" too.

Right now, though, I need to get back to work.  We have some travel plans in January, and this self-imposed task needs to be completed before we leave town!

Comments

[DoctorD42]

Okay, I have completed a first key part of the job, which is that I have responded to all the Christmas cards I received, which was 28 (except for a couple of emails). But then the question is, why are there 107 names on my own "to send" list, which is to say another 79 more. (Some of which, it is true, I wrote to previously and thus are already done).
But there is a big imbalance here. What to do about Jewish people? They don't send cards. What to do about people who don't send cards for whatever reason? In a few cases, some don't send cards in really troubling years, like after their spouse passed away. There can be "reasons."
However, we did move this year, and I do want friends and relatives to have our new address and phone number, if they already don't. So I guess I will press on--but not any more today. We have company coming later for some very good Italian Feast left-overs from Christmas Eve! In our new house it is much easier to receive company, and I am glad that we can.

[Emmi]

[this is good]

Wow, what a task! I know very few people indeed that send cards anymore. Especially hand made ones. The letters you've recieved sound lovely - India, Yellowstone, those are treasures indeed. When we clear our clutter from the house, letters are among the few things we'd never throw away.

I have blogged several times that I want to start letter writing again. I'd prefer to do it throughtout the year rather than all at once. We stopped doing cards mostly because we're too busy, and I used to be all old-fashioned and say that email was tacky.

Now since almost all my freinds shoot off quick Holiday emails, I decided that's okay too, much less pressure. My ultimate philosophy has been that we're struggling for money - gifts are hard to afford and find, so the holiday has potential to be miserable. Why add to that when I can just make up with friends the following months.

I would like to do letters again if I ever get the chance to travel though.

Lovely post!!

[Emmi]

ps Jewish folks don't use cards? The greeting card industry sure makes it seems like everyone does! LOL....maybe just ask them what they prefer, for future reference....

[DoctorD42]

Emmi, I do send "Christmas cards" to many Jewish friends, but none of them (I think) ever send greetings now.  I can understand not celebrating Christ's birth, but then there is also the start of the New Year.  We do all share that.

Except I guess the Chinese.  The most long-distance greeting I received this year was from China.  This year the Chinese (lunar) New Year begins on February 14th

Oh well, different people have different customs.  Many younger couples seem to send photos of their children; some of we older folks just send photos of their grandchildren.  But, I still enjoy letters.  
I have thought about doing an email letter, too, as a few friends do.  But I guess I am too old-fashioned for that.  In practice, I have often sent some kind of "middle of the year" catch-up email to a lot of people, because generally speaking I get behind in my individual emails; we are going away for several weeks on some trip, and I feel guilty.

[DoctorD42]

I just sent out 16 messages by email, to foreign countries, people I don't have a good street address for, and in one painful case, someone I am not sure is still alive!  Anyhow, that knocked off quite a few in one bunch.

[Kinath]

[this is good]

I have found a way to send real personal cards using your messages and pictures to send to people.  It saves me time and money sending cards out throughout the year to people.  Sending a card or cards out to one or hundreds of people at once is a real timesaver. Maybe this is the tool for you.  Your Christmas card thing you do would have been taken care of in a couple of hours. If you want to check it out, go to:

forrealportraitcards.com

Please let me know what you think.

 -Ken

[DoctorD42]

I have sunk to a new low, as I am watching Jerry Springer while working on some more Christmas cards.  The weather channel no longer absorbs me; there aren't enough storms at the moment I guess, and Stephanie Abrams isn't on now anyway.

What I do learn from Jerry is that, these people, his exhibitionist and very disturbed guests, are all American Voters, a part of the fabric of our Democracy, our Economy, and our Social System.  They are parents.  Some have kids in our schools, or at least well, perhaps after they figure out who really was the father.

Gives one pause..  

Perhaps that is why we say grace at dinner every night?

[Emjay]

I love the end-of-year updates I receive, and do, for friends - though they do not always arrive in time for Christmas.   I have friends of more than 40 years standing and I get long missives which I enjoy reading with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine - depending on the time of day of course :-).  Like you I have friends in many corners of the world.

I usually use some of my photos and make my own cards and then type a long insert of my own account of the year as my writing is pretty much past being understandable by anyone other than myself.   Having just got back from my trip home to Australia, I am a bit behind this year.

[DoctorD42]

Emjay, will you post your update on your Vox page?  I have considered doing that, but think I would have to eliminate specifics (like personal names and such).  I still am not totally trusting of the internet.  Anyhow, if you do so, I would like to read it.

[DoctorD42]

Emmi, I did just get a "Christmas card" today from a Jewish friend.  It is titled "Holiday Letter," and contains a lot of interesting personal, professional, family, health, and travel news.  It is the first such though--at least so far.