A friend of mine posted something funny on Facebook yesterday - a funny story from The Onion about a family discontinuing the "print" edition of their Christmas cards in favor of online.
This obviously struck a nerve with me in the year that Newsweek went under, during the same week that saw three more journalists laid off at Jay's newspaper and about the general perceived (or real) decline of print products in general.
As I write this, I can actually see the little mail house where all of the apartments go to pick up their mail in the one centralized hut. There are little garbage cans out there, too - so that people can just chuck their junk mail directly in there.
And it got me to thinking: Do people think our Christmas cards are old-fashioned? Passe? Or do they do for them what they do for me - and to others who I've watched at this box: (Junk. Junk. Bill. Junk. Smile, for the Christmas card.) For so many of us, it's just impossible to send. There's no guilt meant to be put on anyone else here. Frankly, some years, it is just unmanageable. But for me, it's just something I enjoy.
Going through my old address book (still written in pen!) makes me reflect for just a moment on old friends, acquaintances and family to whom I should have spent more time and attention with.
Certainly, things like FB and Twitter have helped with that in some cases. But for the part of my contacts who aren't on those avenues, it will always be a part of my tradition.
But I WOULD like to apologize now. My handwriting STILL isn't getting any better. So the Christmas letter (which my Dad hates!) is typed.
There are many people for whom we are missing addresses. We hope to get them soon to send another batch of cards. Sending them is really the start of the season for us. Happy holidays!
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