How are things going for you and your loved ones this holiday season?
The last few weeks for me have been a whirlwind with work and all sorts of personal trials and tribulations, including the death of a dear, close friend. My wife, Laura, mentioned at dinner earlier this week that she’s like to send out some Christmas cards. She bought a box at the local drug store.
We haven’t sent cards for the past 10 years. Do we really need to?
I think so – even if they go out a little late.
In this day and age where couples, family members and friends are spread out all over the country, it’s so easy to get out of touch and fall victim to the “out of sight, out of mind” mentality in regard to the people we really care about.
Years ago, Laura and I did our best to update everyone we cared about each holiday season.
For a couple of years, we sent out a holiday newsletter made to look like the front page of a newspaper to family and friends. It included an updated family photo and a summary of all the important and funny events we’d experienced that year.
I still smile when I think about the story I wrote for the newsletter one particular year about the birth of our son, Alex. Months earlier, I had driven like a maniac to the hospital at 90 mph with my pregnant wife. After I pulled up in front of the hospital, Laura quickly got out ,hopped into a wheelchair and nurses quickly whisked her inside.
She delivered Alex 12 minutes later. Within an hour, she was munching on a piece of pizza.
“I love these quick deliveries,” she said. (The context was that she was in labor for more than 13 hours with our first child, Katie.)
Over the years, we’ve received holiday newsletters from other families. They were always appreciated.
One couple we know summarized the highlights of their year as seen through the eyes of their dogs. Another compiled a rambling 5-6 page summary of all the highlights from their family, their extended family and even some tidbits about their friends who had visited them that year. We were mentioned once.
Somewhere along the line, we stopped the newsletters and pulled the plug on Christmas cards.
Today, things have changed on so many fronts. There’s mass emails, Facebook, Twitter.
I refuse, though, to send out an email or post something on Facebook or Twitter that says, “Hey, happy holidays everyone … from the Figura family.”
To me, that’s just shallow.
So, what about Christmas cards?
Some friends I know go the expensive route and have custom-made ones made up. They include an updated family photo or just photos of their kids. It’s nice to see how everyone looks.
I like the idea, but frankly I’m not inclined to do that this year. I’m too cheap and besides, it’s way, way too late for that.
With Christmas less than a week away, Laura said I should start chipping away at the Christmas cards. My goal is to get 15-20 sent off before Santa comes. I’m starting tonight (Wednesday, Dec. 19).
There’s just something about adding at least one sentence or two that helps make the message more personal, more relevant. If I’m going to go to the trouble of sending a card, I want to write something inside that reaches out, that soothes, that provides an important update.
Yes, those cards will take a bit longer to write. But aren’t your family and close friends worth it?
I think so and my guess is the cards will be appreciated – even if they arrive a little late.
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