Christmas cards

My Facebook friends and some of my neighbors have lamented about having to put away their Christmas decorations.  They loved putting them up and having them up, but they dreaded putting them away.  I can relate.

Right after putting away my decorations, I took down my Christmas card display and started to put them in the storage box of cards from Christmases past I keep in the basement.  This time though, I thought it was time to do something with all of those cards and letters.  I started saving them because about a million years ago, ok maybe 30 plus years ago, I read that if you cut off the front of the card you can donate them to a charity or a nursing home who reuses them.  So, I brought the storage box of cards and letters up to my study and started to go through them, one by one.

At first, it was interesting to see who the cards and letters were from and to see the wide variety of cards I had received.  The most beautiful cards were from my long time friend and former colleague, Dena.  My sister Sally sent the most special religious themed Christmas cards and another long time special friend Ruth Kay sent the most cards.  I was also blessed by many warm sentiments from people who are no longer around, either because I have lost touch with them or they have passed on.  I have many special notes from a great-grandmother to her precious great-granddaughter, my daughter, when she was younger which I will pass on to her.  Also, little notes like this one I received years ago from my Dad who passed in 2013:

After about four days of reading through cards and letters and cutting off the Christmas card fronts with no writing on them, I had enough.  The joy had turned into dread.  Why did I start this tedious sorting job?  Have I even thrown anything into the recycling bin?  I had, but it didn’t feel like it.  Why is it that when you try to clean out of box of stuff, valuable or not, you make an even bigger mess?

Now that I have read, cut, sorted and kept my precious Christmas sentiments, I have not located anyone yet to take my meticulously cut Christmas card fronts.  St. Jude’s Ranch no longer takes them.  I haven’t given up yet.  Maybe my grandson’s preschool or my church’s preschool will take them next year, or maybe I will donate them to a nursing home.  Either way I will pass them on to be used again.

It was a great exercise in clearing out the old, keeping the precious, and certainly reminiscing about wonderful old friends and family.  Thanks to all of you who have sent me cards and letters over the past 30 plus years.  I have kept them all, just not the Christmas card fronts.

Do you keep your Christmas cards and letters or have you donated the Christmas card fronts?  If so, please comment below.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  Last week I wrote and mailed my annual Christmas cards and letters.  I have sent cards and letters almost every year since the early 80’s.  Back then I probably sent out 40-50 cards and received about 20-25 from family and friends.  Now, I send about 20-25 and receive about 5-10.

Facebook is probably one reason most people don’t send out cards or letters.  It seems most people find it easier and cheaper (no cost for cards and stamps) to send out invitations, birthday and holiday greetings through social media.  Also, we know more about everyone’s lives because of Twitter and Facebook so there isn’t the need for the annual update.  However, I still enjoy receiving and sending cards and letters.  I guess that makes me “old school” or old-fashioned.

When I stopped by Walgreens to pick up the photos I ordered to send with my annual letter, the clerk said, “Oh, you are old school,” when I told her the photos were for my annual Christmas letters.  I proudly replied, “Yes, I guess I am.”

How about you?  Do you still send or receive Christmas cards?  Are you “old school?”