Wednesday, December 9, 2015

An ode to the Christmas Card and other types of card




There was a time when everyone sent Christmas cards, wasn't there?

I can recall being a wee lass and waiting for the mailman to arrive (ah the heady days before Community mailboxes) and the delightful thwack! as a small stack of white and red envelopes, many festooned with seasonal stickers, came through the mail slot and landed on the floor.



It seemed as if most of the cards were from people I didn't know (my parent's old university pals), but I didn't care. Many were from neighbours from across our small town, for in those more formal days, people sent cards to their friends, or it least my mother and her friends did.



Some of those cards contained thick handwritten letters that shared the highlights of their year. Others had mimeographed notes inside (remember them!) - the iconic "Christmas Letter", with a small signature at the bottom written in the perfect penmanship of adults who had grown up in a time when fine penmanship was graded.


I miss those days. Each year I find myself sending fewer and fewer cards. Sure I hand-deliver cards to my friends, but somewhere along the way I've lost addresses or I talk to them weekly or monthly on Facebook and it feels as if the Christmas Card is superfluous.

And yet...

There is something inherently delightful in taking a moment to choose a fine card, or box of cards, and writing a small personal note that wishes the recipient the happiest of Chanukahs, the merriest of Christmases, good cheer for the coming year. Those fine sentiments warm our hearts to send and receive, and they are like sprinkling fairy dust on our friends and neighbours.

This post is mine to you. And if I had all of your addresses, I would send you a real one!



And speaking of cards, I got my new author business cards this week. It was very exciting! I have seen a rough draft of my book cover, and I am about to get into the editing with my editor. No final date yet for the release, but things chug along at their own pace and I am grateful.


The fellow who did the design was aces and is currently working on my website!

Have a happy rest of week! Will write more on the weekend after my annual Christmas dinner with lip-synch battle attached (because it wouldn't be Christmas at my house if we weren't singing and dancing!)

xoxo Wendy
 

23 comments:

  1. Love the font used for your name! Lovely photos on "our" Christmas card. Thanks

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  2. The cards is the easy but! It's the trip to the post office...

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  3. Hi Wendy, I, too, send and receive fewer cards each year - it's a shame, I really enjoy this way of keeping in touch, especially with my friends who live abroad.

    Your new cards are great and I'm very happy that publication of your book is coming along, it's all very exciting!

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  4. We were JUST talking about this! When the kids were younger we would take either a shot of them or all of us and enclose it in certain cards; we received these from families far away we could in this small way follow the. Now people keep too much track of each other on social media so sending out greetings seems superfluous, I guess. Except, I don't do FB etc so keep sending me cards!

    Does the cover include the art yet? All very exciting!

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    1. I miss them, too! Maybe once we become grandmothers it will start again!

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  5. Love love love the new business card!

    We used to festoon every mirror and empty wall space with cards. Christmas letters, well - Every so often, a letter would be too much for my dad's self-restraint, and he'd read it aloud, with dramatic expression that I'm sure never occurred to the author. This became a family tradition that we all looked forward to - as well as the enthusiastic remarks: "Well, looks like as of late November the Bolivian headhunters hadn't gotten to Reverend W. and his family. Well, give them time."

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    1. Fred - I am a little in love with your father! That's where you get that swell personality!

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  6. Call me old fashioned, I'm still sending and receiving Christmas cards, only a few of them arrive digitally.
    Eagerly awaiting details of your book. We've just handed a self-publish book of short stories by Himself to the local printers - editing seems to take forever! And a writer's business card, Wendy - oh, the excitement!

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    1. That's fabulous news about Himself's book! So glad you are still sending cards!

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  7. I stopped sending Christmas cards years ago. My husband is horrified I did, but not enough to do it himself. I really wonder why people bother to have cards printed with a family photo grain and don't bother to write one word inside it. The only effort is addressing the envelope and licking the stamp! Great business card!! So glad your book is ticking along. XX

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    1. No idea what word "grain" was supposed to be :)

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    2. Thanks Jennifer! We haven't done printed cards since the kind dis were little, but even then, always did a personal note. Because otherwise, why bother?

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  8. Sending real Xmas cards every year. Some say it is old fashion and other not eco friendly, but I am just like you, I love sending and receiving real cards!
    I send mine all around the globe and I love this...
    Great business cards, wishing you all the best for the website!

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    1. Thanks Steph - and I agree, there is something sweet about it!

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  9. So right about the Christmas cards; for years I was well known as the very rare young man who took the time to pick a very nice card unlike anything found on the drugstore isles and write a special note. All the older ladies that got such a thrill (and always gave my card special placement on the mantle)died off so I stopped about 15 years ago. I miss those times and those fine ladies.
    Love hearing news of your book project getting closer to publication!

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  10. Beautiful Christmas cards! And impressive Wendy card!

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  11. I feel so badly, we haven't sent one in years though i love receiving them. My husband does do a calendar for 10 of the family though (it takes him days and there is loads of cursing involved!)

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    1. Those calendars impress me know end, as does the cursing!

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Kindness is a virtue...