Holiday Card Lists - how long are yours?

[haele]

We have 17 - but should have around 24; six for the family friend I have addresses for - and there's a few of you out there I don't have addresses for, for some reason, and eleven for relatively immediate family (counting one of my father's cousins who still sends me cards for the holidays).

At one time, I was sending out thirty cards; not only one for my unit and one for wherever I worked at the time, but I belonged to a club and that was "one of the things to do" during the obligatory holiday exchange parties.

Bleah.

My mother drilled it into my head - if you're sending cards, personalize them in one way or another. Unlike many in my family, I don't do the year-end news letters, I usually scribble out some sort of formulaic "hope everyone's handling the holidays and no one's in jail yet; wishing y'all the best over the upcoming year" and perhaps one or two other pointed comments.

It's harder now that I'm married; there's my 'Bama Bear's relatives to send to, and he's not forthcoming when it comes to scribbling his own little ray of seasonal sunshine to those folks far away. I don't mind doing it, but that's another half hour to hour of a Saturday before the 26th of December thinking of what excuses for procrastination to give to families that are traditional in nature...

Why is it that the female of the relationship ends up thinking that sort of thing is important? That it's not just the thought that counts - it's the agony of going through the effort because they deserve some sort of special, individualized thought. What's wrong with me? Arrrggghhh! My fingers hurt, and my Chancery Cursive is suffering!

At least we have a very nice holiday dolphin card to send out, with a generic holiday greeting - just in case one of the recipients isn't celebrating Xmas.

Anyway, here's to the holidays - the family and friends - the change from the old year's cycle to the new year's cycle - whatever you believe

- and not to the commercialism.




Haele

[BOSSHOG]

1. 60+

Not too large of a family but I have alot of old shipmates I served with over the past 30 years and with many, Christmas is the only time we communicate. I also like to send cards to people I have been satisfied doing business with over the course of the year.

I also buy all my Christmas cards and wrapping paper at after Christmas sales. Not so much to save money but to also avoid having to shop for them when they are needed. When the time comes, I already got em.

[skygazer]

2. Very short

My father, my siblings, my kids, my best friend.

Hubby sent one to his only sister and his best friend.

I did mine, he did his. I refuse to get into that "female of the relationship being the only one who cares" thing. If he wants to send cards to his friends and relatives, he is welcome to. If not, I'm not going to lose sleep over it.

Seems to work well.

[readmylips]

3. Haele: I'm in the same boat....

We used to send about 80 to 100 Cxmas cards. After my hub retired, we cut back to about 50, now we're down to about 12. I used to write them all by hand, and still do but 12 is better than 100.

It's the same with gifts, we used to give real nice gifts. It was up to me to run around like a crazy woman finding appropriate gifts for relatives and friends. Now we do one stop shopping; Wal Mart gift cards and only to close relatives. We no longer buy toys for grandkids. It was such a sin to see the waste of money for toys when the children nor the parents appreciate it. We now send a US Bond for each of the kids and Wal Mart again for the adults.

We used to have a huge Cxmas party and invite all our neighbors, plus we gave them a small gift. It was so much work for me and the neighbors loved it but never reciprocated. No more parties. You don't give to receive, but at least say thank you and invite us over for coffee.

I'm so glad I'm old (not that old). Now we spend our money on us.

[hatredisnotavalue]

8. Likewise

Used to give the nieces and nephews $50 at each Christmas and birthday, even though I hadn't seen them in years. Now give them $25 when I see them. I also now hand deliver the Christmas cards, which are about ten.
I agree, I am glad I am so old that I have decided to spend the money on us.

[Z_I_Peevey]

4. Zero

Never was a big priority for me.

And, I don't like that many people. :)

[Cuban_Liberal]

5. 100+

The 'business contacts' make up about 75.

[SarahB]

6. No one's getting any this year.

It was around 20-30. Maybe I'll be up to it again next year. I don't really know at this point.

[LibDemAlways]

7. Approx. 50

Each year I put more people on the "I won't send one to them unless I get one from them first" list, which helps keep the tally lower. I always regret those who fall off the list, though. Wonder what's happened to them and how they're doing.

My parents are 82 and for them Christmas card lists are a painful reminder of who is not around to receive a card anymore.

[Catchawave]

9. I stopped sending them all together.....

...I do those "in lieu of cards" kids' charities donations things. It's been very freeing, and I feel better about the spirit of the season now. But I still enjoy receiving them, because after all these years, I know it's people who "like" sending them, rather than "owing" us one.

[LDS Jock]

13. good, I didn't wanna be the only one

I don't send them either. I just hated doing it. Trying to write something profound, or summarize my year to someone I never see or talk to. I just don't do it now. If someone wants to send me one, I do appreciate it and thank them.

[n2mark]

10. Very short list

I bought a pkg. of 15 -- this will due.

[samplegirl]

11. Only to out of town friends or relatives i dont see

and one special card to my love other than that...i've cut sending
them and i recieve less each year.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. 65 give or take. I send some out as I receive cards.