Card Exchange

[livingdeb]

Have you ever read one of those blog entries where someone goes on and on about some great new discovery they made, but you think to yourself, "Duh; I've been doing that forever"? Well, this is one of those entries.

One of the things on my list of things to do this year was to send out holiday letters, or at least cards. Several people send me cards each year, which I appreciate, silently at home without them knowing if I've even received them. One or two other people have also made it abundantly clear that they appreciate getting cards from me, as if cards provide proof of being loved.

I had thought that another holiday season would come and go without my having done anything toward this goal, when Robin said that he wanted to get some cards and he wanted to look for them at the Paper Place next to Central Market. They are pricey but have loads of way cool stuff. And we both found cool cards we liked. I even found thank-you cards I liked and will be sending some of those this year, too.

Part of me thinks the whole idea of exchanging decorated pieces of dead trees just to feel loving and loved is barbaric, even sinful. On the other hand, it's nice when doing something so simple, wasting just a small slice of dead trees, can bring some happiness.

So I'm sending out eight pretty new year's cards this year. And not only that, I'm sending one of those holiday newsletters. I already have a draft.

I tried to do this a couple of years ago, but I got bogged down by the problem that so many people despise these newsletters. I tried to figure out why, and the best reason I can come up with is that people see them as expressions of self-importance. They seem to say, "Look at all the fabulous things I accomplished this year. You are so lucky to know me." Maybe it's okay if your greatest accomplishments weren't that great? "I've gone another year without needing help from Welfare. Also, I got only one speeding ticket, and I got to take care of that with a defensive driving class!" Or maybe you're supposed to throw in some negatives, too, somehow, in your cheery holiday letter?

This year I realized I already write a blog, so I'm already known for having the kinds of faults that newsletter writers have. Plus, I get the idea that the specific people who make me feel like they would really enjoy getting a card from me and who send out cards to me themselves would probably actually enjoy getting these newsletters.

The whole process has been easy and fun. I'm definitely going to keep up this tradition (unless, possibly, if I get a lot of negative feedback somehow).

I'm pretty sure none of my regular readers is getting a card. Maybe one. The cards are going mostly to relatives and a couple of people who live out of town and send me stuff. But if you're one of those people who like to get cards, let me know, and I'll put you on my list for next year.

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[grieve.livejournal.com]

If it makes you feel better, the more paper you use, the more trees the paper factories plant.