Growing up, I did not come from a family who sent out Christmas cards. We received a handful of them from family members and I would feel jealous as I read them over and over. I longed to take a family picture and to write a yearly letter that everyone would read. I wished my dad would send out cards from us.
It was in University when I sent out my very first set of Christmas cards. I spent a month collecting addresses from family and friends. I painstakingly wrote out addresses on all the envelopes by hand and spent days writing and rewriting my letter. And I waited and waited for my pictures to arrive so I could mail everything together. It was so much fun dropping off that stack of envelopes in the mailbox that year and I couldn't wait for the replies.
One year - my roommates decided to hide the Christmas cards I received. The mail arrived while I was at work and I would check the mailbox when I got home to find it empty. They would hide them all over the house and if I wanted them, it was up to me to find them. One would be hanging from the chandelier in the kitchen. Another nestled beside a beer in our fridge. And another waited to be found in the shower the next morning. My roommates felt hiding my cards was much more fun than just looking in a mailbox. And they were right. Each day my excitement grew as I discovered them in the most bizarre places.
The only card they weren't allowed to hide was my Grandma Beaton's. She used to send me a card every year and hers was my favourite. She took the time to write a handwritten note on the entire left side of the card telling me about how well she was doing at bowling and what the weather was like. My Grandma came from a time before computers and I certainly appreciated the time and effort it took to write all those cards. Some years I believe my aunts helped her write all her letters, but the words were still hers. She stopped sending cards a few years before she passed away, but she would still call me after she received mine to chat about the weather and to thank me for thinking of her. She always loved receiving letters.
My favourite cards now come with pictures and letters, but honestly, anything will do. Some friends are creative - like Sam who sent a crossword puzzle as her letter last year. Some friends are thoughtful - like Melissa who sent a recipe one year. Some friends make me smile - like Duncan whose message always reads: Happy Ho Ho and whose card is always the first one to arrive in my mailbox (because he follows my 'cards go in the mail on December 1' rule). And some friends really know how to use the exclamation point to their advantage - right, Becky!!!! Each card is different and they all make me smile.
This year I opted for fun and wrote a poem as my annual letter. I'll share it on my blog in a few weeks so as not to spoil the surprise for all those on my Christmas card list. I mailed letters and pictures to a whopping 97 families. Some envelopes will travel throughout the provinces of BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, and one card is even making its way all the way down under this year. As with tradition I also included a few family pictures and thought I'd show a sneak peek here:
One might assume that since I send out so many cards, that I also receive a lot of cards. But that's not necessarily the case. Some years I receive more than others, but last year I received a total of 27 cards. I know the number because my sisters and I have an annual bet on who receives the most cards and Jacquie always wins. I believe she opened over 50 cards last year while Celina had around 40. But honestly, it doesn't matter. I send cards because I love it. I don't expect a card in return, but I certainly do love when people send me one back.
Today is December 4 and I have one card on my wall (thanks Duncan). I can't wait to see who else has me on their list this year :)
Happy Holidays!
Melanie
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