A couple hours ago, my mailman buzzed me from the lobby and I hurried down there, thinking it was a package of some sort. Nope, it was this Christmas card with a good third of it missing, in a “We Care” sleeve from the Post Office. Jim (my mailman) said “Doug... I’m real sorry.”
I like Jim, he’s a decent guy. He’s my age and has plans to retire next summer. I thanked him, told him it was okay but still winced a little when I saw the handwriting on the envelope. That’s from my Aunt Dena, she always includes a letter inside. Yep, half of her words were shorn off!
Thirty plus years ago, I started this custom of bringing 1-2 Christmas cards from home into the office and displaying them on my desk. It was always AFTER the holiday, and they were usually from my mom & Grandma Morris, who both took the time to include nice messages inside. In the beginning, a few curious coworkers would ask why I did it, and I’d say “Oh, they’re this year’s winners of my Christmas card contest.”
I don’t know why this became a thing, but the ladies in my office saw it as a competition, and every year I wound up displaying 10-12 cards on my desk until Martin Luther King Jr Day, or until my boss would come to me for something and say “Dougie… c’mon!”
Anyway… I’m a 60 year old man now, never married or had a family of my own, so the cards I get every year are what put me in the holiday spirit. Three in particular stood out to me this year (besides that shredded card from Aunt Dena). A card from Bobi E., a lovely Canadian who wanted to let me know she enjoyed my blog and included a cool smashed penny taped to the inside. Thanks Bobi, that’s going to be my good luck charm this year!
The second was from my (ultra conservative) dentist Dr. Shannon, dressed up as a Disney princess. Ugh, her politics drive me batty—but she has to be one of the kindest, dearest people on this planet. If anyone turned me to the Dark Side (you know, the GOP) it’d be her.
Third was from my former coworker Kimberly Hall, who I haven’t worked with since 1997, or seen since 2001. Only one month apart in age, we became close friends from the first day we met. I loved her then and still do, and what she wrote to me in this year’s card made me cry! My God, what’s wrong with me? I’m a basket case!
Seasons Greetings Everyone
It's always nice to know that someone cares enough to send you a Christmas card, but I do hate writing and sending them! Such a boring job! Oops that doesn't sound very cheerful.
ReplyDeleteHaha thanks Joe and hey you're just keeping it honest! I agree, it can be a chore but I like the rewards. Hope you have a healthy, happy holiday.
DeleteI like Christmas cards too... but the numbers have certainly gone down over the years. Now I basically send them to family and close friends. But it is nice to get them and sometimes they include either a Christmas newsletter to catch you up or a few personal lines. So enjoy your cards anyway you want to display them, Dug. I'm so sorry about your Aunt's card though...
ReplyDeleteThanks Rian and I know what you mean, 20 years ago I sent out double the cards I do now. So the ones I still get, mean a lot. Hey if I don't speak with you again, hope you have a nice Christmas. 🙂🎄
DeleteThat was such a bummer that the P.O. ate your card. Hope you could at least get a drift of what your Aunt was trying to tell you. Cards really have become almost extinct haven't they? I use to spend a lot of time sending and enjoying the getting but now I just get enough to decorate the mantel. I do send e-cards from Jacquie Lawson. They are clever but just not the same. Can't display an e-card.
ReplyDeleteThanks Patti, accidents happen I suppose, but it was frustrating to open my aunt's card and on the inside it said "cracked his rib and". Good grief who was she talking about?? Anyway, you're certainly right they are almost extinct. I sent out 16 this year, it seems to shrink each year too. Well Patti thank you for your always kind comments, I sure hope you have a sweet Christmas. 🙂⛄🎄
DeleteIt’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…
ReplyDeleteThat’s because, for the last month or so, it’s been hot, damned hot.
That means we have begun to wear our traditional Christmas garb - shorts and t-shirts (or if one is sitting at home alone, just shorts).
It’s not quite standard Christmas weather though as we’re in the middle of a La Niña event, so there’s been more rain and thunderstorms than normal. Still hot, but tropical.
I have spent a few Christmases in the northern hemisphere, a couple in Albuquerque. It snowed and it was very cold. Norma and I thought that this was wrong for Christmas, completely, totally, utterly wrong.
Anyway, whatever your weather is, I hope you have a happy Christmas Doug (and all your readers too).
Peter, thanks very much and good to hear from you Music Man! I know that "down under" most of you Aussie folk equate the holiday with summer, man I can't even imagine! Anyway, I hope you and Norma are both well and that you have a very happy Christmas too, my friend. 🙂👍🎄
DeleteThose postal machines do shred things sometimes, but it's too bad it's not junk mail. I love your custom of the winning Xmas cards. I have been getting a slew of them lately and will now have to send out my New Years cards. Prior to the past few days I haven't gotten very many. It will be a project to work on next week. :)
ReplyDeleteMargaret I wasn't aware we had any postal machines left running! Just a little liberal humor there.. anyway, New Year's cards sound like a good idea, if you mean in place of Xmas cards! Well I hope you and your lovely family who I feel I know very well! Have a wonderful holiday. 🙂💕🎄⛄
DeleteMr. Dug, so now you have the perfect reason to call your Aunt and ask for another copy of the letter! Half of her stories is just too suspenseful! Ack! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteLinda, it is suspenseful but my aunt is such a perfectionist I think the shredded card might upset her! I'll have to get the scoop from one of my female cousins, they always know everything. Hey, hope you have a wonderful Christmas. 👍🙂🎄⛄
DeleteI'm so sorry your Aunt Dena's card and letter were damaged. That's a lovely assortment of cards you have there. Your tree looks almost exactly like a Christmas brooch I have.
ReplyDeleteThank you River, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. 🙂🎅🎄
DeleteNow you've got me curious about the who and how of the partial cracked rib message. Wishing you and your readers a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year!
ReplyDeleteFlorence, Ive got to find that out today! Thanks for commenting, I hope you have a wonderful & happy Christmas and New Year too. 🙂👍🎄⛄🎄
DeleteHi Doug, so sorry your card was ripped! Hope you will be able to find out about the cracked rib.
ReplyDeleteI love your ceramic Christmas tree. I made one 35 years ago but it was a casualty of one of our moves. The packers didn’t pack it very well and it was smashed.
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas Doug!❤️
Thanks Robin! I'm sorry about the loss of your own ceramic tree... I saw this one on Etsy a couple years ago, it reminded me of the one my grandma used to have. I think it cost me almost a $100! But I do love it. Hope you and Chuck have a very happy Christmas Robin. 🙂👍⛄🎄🎅
DeleteI sent out 20 this year and haven't gotten half in return. Tis ok. At least the others know I'm thinking of them. Happy Holidays! :0)
ReplyDeleteKat, I really admire your attitude. If I go a couple years without getting one in return from someone, their name on my list gets flagged! 😉 Anyway, thanks for your honesty and hope you have a happy Christmas too. 🙂🎄⛄
DeleteI don't send them and receive only a few, mostly from fellow bloggers who have my address for one reason or another. I wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday season! And if you do find out about the cracked rib person, do let us know. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan I really don't receive that many either.. I'm sure you remember growing up, it was a different story. In our house, we had cards adorning doorways, a fireplace, stair banisters! But I'm happy and grateful for the few I still get today. Anyway, I sure hope you and SG have a happy and healthy holiday too. I should wish the same for your coffee and hiking friends, I know they're your second family! ☺️🧠💕🎄🎄⛄
DeleteWe send out a photocard and a newsletter every year because that is the best kind to receive, at least in my opinion. I always enjoy hearing about what others did during the previous year and their interpretation of things.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's because I'm not a family man, but I was never a big fan of those newsletters. They just felt impersonal, I like something written just for me 🙂. Ed, I sure hope you and your own family have a very nice Christmas. 🎅⛄🎄
DeleteMerry Christmas, Doug!
ReplyDeleteThank you Gigi, Merry Christmas to you and David too! 🙂💕🎄🎄
DeleteHi Doug! I love all of your beautiful Christmas cards and your tree as well! I'm sorry I have not been around, it's been kind of a crazy month. I just wanted to stop by and give you my wishes for you to have a peaceful and happy Christmas! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHi Bonnie, it's so nice hearing from you--I just read your own blog a little bit ago, I am so sorry you & your family have been so much. I'm just glad your son is alright and everyone's okay for the most part. Thanks very much for this very kind message, I've missed you. Hope you have a Merry Christmas!
DeleteMele Kalikimaka, Doug! I do New Years Newsletters, but wow... this year... I'm having a hard time getting it done. Art was really impressed with how great a caricaturist you are.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Kay! (Okay now I have that song Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say... stuck in my craw, haha!) Anyway that was very nice of Art, and I'm glad you got my silly card. I sure hope you & your awesome family are having a good holiday. :^)
DeleteWould it be OK to post your photo of the ripped Xmas card on my blog?
DeleteKay if you see this... sure!
DeleteThanks, Doug!!!
DeleteI like the Tradition of Christmas Card Exchanges, I still do it and some Friends and Family do too, but it's a slowly shrinking practice that most people opt out of and some young people marvel that it's a Holiday Tradition at all since they've never received nor sent any ever. A Shame about the damaged Card, I've had Packages arrive like that. Sadly, the Money I sent my Grandkids in Mexico never arrived, they told me that their Mail People steal whatever is sent and often open the Mail to look for contents they can pilfer, which is just unbelievable and really upset me to hear.
ReplyDeleteBohemian, thanks for sharing and I hope you had a nice Christmas. Good grief about the Mexican mail! I'm so sorry but I guess that's not surprising, you hear all these stories about corrupt law enforcement there as well. 😮
DeleteHope your Christmas Day has been special. Enjoy reading of your Christmas Card adventures. For the first year ever, I've finally stopped sending cards as so few of the many I once sent are still living, and I do mean few. Guess that's the price of getting older but when those younger than me start going, that's unsettling. Instead I just sent the ones remaining a personal holiday letter expanded from the note I would have sent on a card. I, too have a miniature Christmas tree that serves for some of my decorating rather than a larger tree I only have used when family came after I was alone.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Joared. My Christmas was quiet but nice, hope yours was nice too. I know the tradition of sending Christmas cards is fading, it seems like my own list is shrinking by one or two every year! As for the smaller tree, I'd say that's definitely one good thing about living alone. 🙂🎄
DeleteDoug!!! We had the same thing happen to us yesterday with the mail. We got a letter that had a huge chunk ripped off. My sister-in-law said she had the same thing happen too. I don't recall this happening before although Art says it did a long, long time ago. Funny that it's happening more often now.
ReplyDeleteKay, sorry for the delay in replying to this... too weird! Well I've never seen anything like this before??
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