‘Tis the season for Christmas cards, letters and pictures.
Have you sent your batch of Christmas cards, yet? Do you sign the card, or do you have the family names printed? Do you send both a letter and a card? Do you simply send a Christmas family photo?
I buy Christmas cards through a children’s hospital, and I include a hand written note and family picture. Last year, I worked on our Christmas cards the weekend of Thanksgiving. I had those suckers out shortly after December 1st. This year? Well, I hope to complete the task before Christmas.
Though I need to print and fold the letter, write personal notes, stuff and seal the envelope, and address and stamp the envelopes, I do not have to write the letter. My friends, I finished the letter, and I am going to share it with you.
Because I appreciate the time you spend reading my posts, I wanted to take a moment and let you know how much you mean to me. For this post, I am putting aside my usual subjects. This post is about … well, it’s still all about me. I mean, come on – it’s our Christmas letter!
Salutations!
When I was young, I looked forward to reading my Mom’s Christmas letter. Well, more accurately, I looked forward to seeing how many sentences were about me and what those sentences revealed about me. I admit I was a little jealous when the letters contained more sentences about my siblings than me. Apparently, my life as a kid was not as entertaining as the life of my siblings.
For the record, I beg to differ. Coming home from school and watching television is way better than playing on the softball travel team, swimming, joining the Coast Guard, graduating from nursing school, etc.
All my Mom had to do was ask me what was happening on General Hospital, and I would have been happy to fill her in on the whereabouts of the Ice Princess, my take on Liz Taylor’s performance, as well as how attractive I found Tristan Rogers. I am certain inquiring minds wanted to know. But no, she never asked, and my name was barely mentioned in her Christmas letters.
*sigh* I’m over it. Really. I let it go last year years ago.
Now that I am a parent, I decided it was time for me to begin the Christmas letter tradition. So, I am embracing the rite of passage to write and tell true stories about my boys. And maybe, when my boys are older, they will start reading the letters to see how much (and what) was said about them.
(Hi Joe! Hi Charlie!)
Then again, I have the power. I could take this opportunity to tell you all about me! No, I haven’t joined a traveling softball team. No, I’m not an avid swimmer. No, I did not join the Coast Guard; and no, I have not started or graduated from nursing school. Oh and get this, I’m no longer watching ‘General Hospital’! (I know! Right?!)
So, what on earth could I share about myself that would be worthy enough to include in a Christmas letter? Yes, well, I have a better appreciation for why my Mom was able to write more sentences about my siblings than she was able to write about me. I guess some things never change.
In a nutshell, we are healthy, wealthy and wise. Rob and I are employed, the boys are in school – Kindergarten and First Grade, and we take part in that family tradition of long ago … the one where you sit down as a family during meals. Yep, we do that thing daily. Craziness, I know.
Oh, there was that ceremony we attended, because Rob won the key to the city. Plus, Joe was voted Valedictorian of his Kindergarten class back in June; he is also slotted to be Valedictorian of his First Grade class. (Clearly, Joe takes after me and Rob.) Oh and, Charlie was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on getting his brother to be a kinder and gentler older brother; unfortunately, Charlie lost to some woman named Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. No worries, Charlie is handling the loss well, as he realizes it was an honor to be nominated. (Yes, thank you; we have done a wonderful job raising our boys; we appreciate you noticing.)
Okay, so maybe the above paragraph isn’t entirely true. A Mom can dream, right?
Anyway …
Regardless of your faith or lack of faith, I hope you have a wonderful holiday season. From my family to your family, we wish you a new year full of smiles and laughter. May your memories stay with you, so you can share the tales of the year with us next Christmas. (Tip: Write it down as it happens, if you can remember where you put your pen and paper.)
Love,
[Insert handwritten signatures here]
Lenore's Thoughts Exactly 
Hey, I will have you know that I was VERY good at watching Guiding Light every single day for YEARS. It wasn’t an easy task either!
Great letter, hilarious, I loved all of it. I sincerely hope you and your family have the Merriest of Christmases (even without the Nobel Prize winning son…sigh, don’t lose hope though, he’s still young)
I am happy to find out you can relate to the tedious task of watching Soap operas.
Thank you for pointing out the fact that hope is not lost – Charlie is still young. Maybe next year. (smile)
Merry Christmas, Darla!!
Merry Christmas Lenore!!
Merry Christmas, Vix! Thanks for visiting me!
I took the decision many years ago to forgo cards instead taking the environmental (read tight walleted) high ground. I do admire your organisational skills though.
TTFN
Mr Bunny Chow
TTFN … I love Tigger. You made me smile by using the acronym.
Welcome to the neighborhood, Mr. Bunny Chow. I appreciate you stopping by my place. Full disclosure, my organizational skills are minimal at best. Perhaps I should resolve to become better organized with the coming new year. (smile)
Thanks again for visiting, BC.
TTFN!
I used TTFN on my first ever blog post and have been using it as my byline ever since, Been a huge AA Milne fan since I was a small child and my family used to read the original stories to me.
You have good taste, Mr. BC.
Would that all Christmas letters were as candid and entertaining! Have a great Christmas, it’s been fun getting to know you.
Thanks, Linda. I appreciate you coming and visiting this year. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, too. And, I hope you get some entertaining Christmas cards/letters in the mail!
Fun, Lenore!
Clearly Charlie was wronged by the Nobel committee. Better luck next year, kiddo! 🙂
Thanks, Jackie. I appreciate you noticing the talent that exists in my kid named Charlie. I’ll keep you posted on his attempt for 2012. 🙂
Thanks for visiting!
Our families never wrote Christmas letters. I’m afraid the page would be blank! Saves on ink, though. Most of my friends and family are on Facebook, so it would be rehashing what they already know. Ok, I just talked myself out of the need to write one. Thanks for your helpful post!
Hahaha – glad I could help you work that out, Patti. Too funny.
That was a clever and fun letter that was a joy to receive. Now I better work on mine……
Thank you, Bella. I hope your family has excelled as much as mine has this year! (wink, wink)
Unfortunately I have a family member who writes a “Braggy McBraggert” letter … I’d love to receive yours instead – with pictures of those 2 darling boys!!
Happy everything,
MJ
“Braggy McBraggert” I love that phrase, though the person it describes at any given time leaves a bit to be desired. (smile)
Thank you for your kindness, MJ. It is always appreciated! Happy everything back to you, too!
Great letter. I did the lazy man’s Christmas card. I used to write a letter. Maybe next year I’ll do it again.
Thanks, Robin! I liked your ‘lazy man’s Christmas card! For the record, you’re getting the letter. It’s on my list of things to tackle over the next several days. I printed the letter today, so I continue to get closer to completion. (smile) Thanks for commenting.
I sure wish I had written letters over the years…I enjoyed yours very much. Who do we write about Charlie’s being overlooked? Maybe you could add that as a PS?
K8, I do enjoy reading the letters my Mom wrote through the years. The letters do provide a nice snapshot of what took place, etc.
I’m not sure who to contact regarding the fact that Charlie was robbed of the Nobel Prize. When I do – I’ll let you know, and I’ll add a P.S. Thanks for your support! (smile)
Too funny! I like your take on Christmas letters, very refreshing, as well as a hoot and a half. Great post, as always, LD.
Hoot and a half, you say? Have I ever written that comment on your blog? My family says ‘hoot and a half’ all the time. Well, we really only say it around folks we consider hoots and a half. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen/heard anyone else use it. Hoot – yes; Hoot and a half – no.
Glad you liked my take on Christmas letters. I do hope my Aunts are not insulted. Interestingly enough, I received a Christmas letter today from an Aunt. She shared the fact that one granddaughter is at X university on a swimming scholarship. Please. I bet she hasn’t seen one episode of General Hospital and doesn’t even know what the Ice Princess was. Thanks for the kind words, Lisa.
I stopped the Christmas Card tradition a few years ago, but I’m tempted to pick it up again. I’ve received two already and LOVED getting them in the mail. I’m surprised at my feelings about them… 😀
I have friends who do an annual letter and the author is a riot! He tells family secrets, highlights the goofs and just about gets killed by his children. They all love it, actually.
Amy, I get excited when a letter arrives in the mail. One perk of Christmas is the fact that folks send mail – not email – but real mail. I received three cards today! I love it! (And, I had better get mine in the mail.) If I may, I encourage you to start the tradition again. You’ll make someone’s day.
The guy who tells family secrets, highlights the goofs, etc – THAT is my kind of guy!
Thank you for visiting.
I’m still trying to get my cards addressed–I also address them before I start writing them. Not sure why–maybe because addressing them is the most tedious part. I loved your letter. It is much more entertaining than most. My children are getting bumped from this year’s letter so that I can devote the space to writing about my wonderful, amazing grandson and my soon-to-be-born granddaughter who may make her entry into the world before Christmas. Hope your family has a very blessed and relaxing holiday.
I hope you also have a blessed and relaxing holiday, Susan. Remember, there are 12 days of Christmas, so the cards aren’t in the mail by the 25th, you still have another week. No worries!
Thank you for your kind words. I always appreciate you stopping by for a visit.
Love your letter. Thank you for reminding us of the cardinal rule. Write the same number of lines about each person. Congratulations to Joe and Charlie and Rob…and mom LD on all your accomplishments this year. 🙂
i love, love Christmas cards, letters and photos. I pin them up to the curtain behind the tree for all to see and read. So much effort must be seen and read! My family scolds me saying it looks cluttered…. They could just as well tell me the tree looks cluttered. Not.
I enjoy Christmas cards and pictures, too, Georgette. I love going to the mailbox and finding mail. I am sorry some don’t par’take in the tradition, though I realize it is time consuming.
Thank you for reading. I am certain your card decorate curtains look wonderful! It indicates you appreciate each and every one. Good for you!
Hahaha… so funny, Ms. D!
But… Christmas Cards? Christmas Letters? What are these things you speak of? Yeah, I’m ‘that’ guy. Although I’m not proud of it.
P.S. The soap I couldn’t get away from was Days of Our Lives… it was on at home, it was on in the home of a family I worked for in H.S., AND my roommate in college watched it (his excuse was ‘Billie is hot’.) Honestly. 1994-1999. To this day the sight of an hourglass makes me want to throw up.
Glad you liked it, SIG. My goal is always to write something you find funny. 🙂
Perhaps you can check with your other half, she may know of this thing called, “Christmas Cards”. Unless, of course, you are Jewish, Atheist, Buddhist, Muslim, etc. (smile) I am sorry you were tortured with “Days of Our Lives”. It’s a shame your family, your employer and your roommate did not have better taste.
Fun post, Lenore! Ellen who? Charlie was robbed!
My Christmas cards are sitting on my desk…had the photos printed last night, but will not be writing a letter this year…I used to do it years ago, but no time for that now. My blog is my year-round account of what our family’s been up to…
Merry Christmas!
Wendy
Thank you, Wendy. Ellen who? My point exactly!! Actually, with all due respect to Ellen, she has done wonderful things. Women are better off with someone like Ellen. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Johnson_Sirleaf
Then again, Joe is better off having his brother Charlie. I think Charlie will snag it next year. I’m sure of it!
Thank you for visiting, Wendy. Merry Christmas to you!
Lenore your Mom’s Christmas letter contained more sentences about your siblings than you because, might be your mom knew that, “she has a talented daughter (Writer) who can write about herself”. (Smile) And i hope One day Joy will win the Nobel prize and will tell in his acceptance speech that “Mom, I made you proud.Thanks for making me part of your dream”. (Smile).
Lastly thanks for these wishes. I also wish you & your family all the happiness in the world.Stay healthy and Stay happy and spread the laughter, as you are dong right now. 🙂
You are kind, Arindam. Thank you for your nice comments. I wish you the happiest of holidays, too. Here’s to a wonderful 2012.