Christmas Cards
Here’s my Christmas confession. Cards were the first thing to go. Back when I finally hit that wall from striving for the kind of level of holiday perfection that was bound to leave everything in a smoking ruin, and realized the wonderful truth that I could make my own reality and therefore, my own holiday traditions. Back when we were scraping just to pay for postage. And here’s the lesson – the year I stopped sending, I stopped receiving. Abruptly and across the board. This was my awakening to the cold hard reality of holiday obligation and the circuitous trap of the holiday card. Today, I defy its tyranny.
By sending email cards. I remember the first year I did just that. Furtively, almost shamefully. And I got a bigger and better response to that than I ever had to anything mailed the traditional way. Everyone loves a shortcut.
Between you and me, I still think sending email cards at Christmas is insanely tacky. But I can embrace the tacky. It’s my tradition.
So to all of you I present this year’s card, and a wish for the happiest of holidays.
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I am in love. This is the first year I haven’t sent the cards yet.
Yes, they are laying next to my feet. I tried printing my letter, and the printer jammed.
I’m out of luck.
I think I may send it out to the folks on my list that don’t do computers and take after your lead.
I suddenly feel much better.
[Reply]
Lisa Milton
19 Dec 07 at 8:03 am
i love Christmas cards. I write letters in each one of them (so the process takes days) It’s a wonderful beginning to my holiday.
Not everyone is that way though, and as long as I am spreading warm wishes, that is what matters. You are right though, sometimes it is obligatory. I send just over 80 cards out. Believe it or not it’s a list of truly important people to us. We average about 22-30 received. It doesn’t mean I knock the ones who didn’t send one, off of my list. I don’t…
people are funny
[Reply]
Misty
19 Dec 07 at 9:00 am
This is absolutely THE most adorable Christmas card EVER! The kids, the quote, everything. I’m honored to have received it.
I went the Christmas Without Obligation route this year. Sometimes I send one of those chatty letters with our cards. This year I just sent picture Christmas cards with no handwritten nothin’ of any kind. Now THAT’S tacky.
[Reply]
Zenmomma
19 Dec 07 at 11:58 am
I have to admit i don’t like the email ones. I always got the most amazing holiday card from a friend – it was handmade, there was a ‘newsletter’ of all things, pictures, recipes, art input from her toddler.. this year she decided to “go green” and email their greetings. know what? I haven’t even read it yet. There it sits, along with other email that I get all passive-aggressive about dealing with.
But your card is amazing! how did you DO that?
And confession – I got on the computer to edit/finish/create my holiday letter and pics, and that was 3 hours ago, and here I am catching up on blogs and haven’t started yet.
It doesn’t stress me though – whatever gets done, gets done.
Happy Holidaze to Ye!
[Reply]
piscesgrrl
19 Dec 07 at 7:41 pm
lisa – If I’m not careful the fun would get sucked right out of my holiday while I get caught up in trying to live up to my own expectations, so I know how you feel and am glad to help inspire a “keep it simple” holiday.
I have nothing but respect for your Christmas card abilities, misty. It just isn’t my thing.
Thanks zenmomma, it means a lot.
piscesgrrl – see if you ever make it on MY email card list again!
Thanks for the go green idea, though, I always like it when I can paint my laziness as earth conscious. As for how I did the card, I’ve been puttering around with various graphics programs since my youngest was a lima bean, so I’ve learned a few tricks. Here’s a tip – get a good program (if you don’t want to go as spendy as Photoshop, Paintshop Pro is excellent) and then follow tutorials on the internet.
[Reply]
K.
21 Dec 07 at 2:16 am
This is the best card I have seen in years. What a darling crew.
[Reply]
Mrs. G.
21 Dec 07 at 9:09 am
Ya, that was kind of a dumb thing for me to say in your comments, wasn’t it!? Sheesh. I’m Sorry, guess I forgot my manners in my craze to do anything but face the mountain of gift preparation in my bedroom.
Thx for the suggestion of Paintshop Pro – will get my techy son on it asap.
[Reply]
piscesgrrl
22 Dec 07 at 2:21 pm
Don’t be silly, Laura, I didn’t take offense. We’re practically old friends now. I mean, it’s been what? A few months now?
[Reply]
K.
22 Dec 07 at 10:35 pm