Christmas Correspondence

One of the things I love most about December is receiving Christmas cards and letters. I've been asked why I don't write Christmas cards. Perhpaps it's because between Facebook and this blog, that's my daily extension of the Christmas letter. Really, you should know what I've been up to all year.

Some people have their cards ready and sent at the beginning of the season. We received our first card the day after Thanksgiving. Some send them randomly. I know who you are. And some of you wait as long as you can, collecting all addresses from the cards you receive and then send a card out in reciprocation.

So, what's the point of Christmas cards anyways? Just to let people know you're still kicking? To wish everyone joy? Or simply to just say hello once a year. I like to think all three.

One of the things I do each year, instead of throwing away all the cards and letters - I save them. You all worked so hard on them. Four years ago, we got a card from Jimmy Carter! How fun is that. I just threw it away this year. But for the most part, I like to save the cards, especially the letters and pictures and compare how everyone's grown up, changes of hair color, who's gotten fat, all that stuff. So, this year, when I pulled out our cards and letters, I discovered a few things. Without further ado, here's some Christmas tips you should be aware of, because I'm ON TO SOME OF YOU:

First of all, be creative. Some Christmas letters are humdrum and redundant. Some are bulleted. Please don't send me a business format letter for Christmas. And please, if you have a lot to say, which really, you don't, I've edited your letter- cut it back a bit. Do you really need things like "Aren't the children so cute!?" - Yes they are, but no, you don't need to write that phrase in your letters, let us judge your children's cuteness for ourselves.

Please don't make your Christmas letters more than one page and please don't shrink the font nor widen the margins. It's a letter to your friends and family telling us how you're doing for Christ's sake (literally). If that many life altering events happened, you probably told us when it actually happened. Or, you need me to edit your letter is all I'm sayin.

We want to know how you're doing. If you had a challenging year, perhaps just a photo card is a better option. Because some of these letters I can read like Eeyore. People died, you lost your job and insurance package which is not great because someone's been diagnosed with some rare disease. We hope YOU have a good new year but ours sucked. I get it, you want people to know what's going on in your world. But remember, you're speaking for other people that probably don't do Christmas letters for this very reason. And you're bringing me down! I want to know how you're doing, please don't misunderstand me. It's just in a bulk business letter - kind of weird.

My favorite cards and letters are pesonalized and unique. Last year, I got one that was about the family, but to the tune of Jinge Bells. And I got a card from a friend who's lifelong dream was to go to NYC - so it was a postcard designed like a playbill of pictures of her in Times Square. Just made my heart dance. And she didn't even write a letter, just told us the story with her eyes dancing in the picture.

I like to get the photo cards to see how everyone's changed and grown. Please don't send me just a picture of your kids. I want to see you too! I mean, I don't just want to judge your Christmas scenario photo selection of just your kids. I'm going to need to judge you too. Maybe an action shot even! Oh, that's just crazy!

In writing this, I've just realized I didn't use too much creativity for our Christmas card this year. I just tried to get something out quickly. And I'm the perfect example of my own message - not every year has to be topped by next year's card of letter. Just remember, we need creativity in a letter, we want to see your whole family in the picture, and don't forget the glad tidings of comfort and joy.

We were addressing the Christmas cards the other night. Ricardo saw one I'd addressed to and said, "You're sending a card to them? Why?"

"I want to get their reciprocation card and see if they're wearing the same black shirts again."

"Oh, cool."

That's how I roll.