December 18, 2007
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The Christmas Conundrum
As any regular reader of this space knows, I despise paper. I think it is a completely useless 21st century product. If a service provider requires paper in order for me to do business with them, I’d rather not do business. At Christmas time however, I have a dilemma. I’ve always sent a lot of Christmas cards. My travels have afforded me good friends all over the world, and long before email, Christmas was always a great time to catch up with people I rarely got to see or talk to.
I know it’s hard for you “young’ins” to imagine a time before email, but believe it or not it’s only been in general use about 13 years. Even before computers and the Internet, I was always very organized regarding my Christmas cards. In the height of my traveling in the early 90′s my Christmas card list topped over 250. I kept meticulous records (and still do) about who I sent cards to and who I received cards from.
I have codes and everything! Some people come and go over they years and there are others who are always on the list. It’s tradition, whether I receive a card from them or not. There are some people I’ve been sending cards to since 1983. Some of my friends may even be able to pick out their names on these photos!
The hand written lists go back to 1983 the year I started college. Back then, I kept the list in my yearly planner. Starting in 1991 (the list below right), the real fun began. The more countries I visited, the more people I sent cards to. There are 5 people on this year’s list that I’ve only met once in my life. There are kids I used to babysit for, who now have kids of their own. It’s fun to receive cards too. My favorites are always the ones with pictures of the kids. I save all of my cards from past years, and it’s great to look back and see how the children have grown!
Another tradition I’ve had since 1988, is that my best friend Daniel has always drawn a picture of Oreo to put in my cards. For example, the year Oreo was shot, Dan drew a picture of Santa going up the chimney and leaving Oreo a bullet-proof vest.
After Oreo died (many years after the shooting), the drawings became the template for my annual Christmas message (not your typical cheesy Christmas letter, I might add!).
I have friends with kids who have all of these drawings from over the
years hanging in their rooms! So you see, as much as I’d like to sever
my ties to paper 100%, this is the one time of year I don’t think I
can. Talk to me in 3 hours though, once the writer’s cramp has settled
in, and I may be singing a different tune! Finally, even though I
despise snail mail. It it nice to have decorations for my bookshelves
at Christmas.
Good night…I have a lot of cards to write.
Comments (15)
@_@ there was a time when we didnt have email and internet? say wha…..?
lol
WOW i love how ur so dedicated to your holiday cards and to keep in contact with all ur travel buddys.
i wish i can send many people cards hehe. i only bought one pack with 18 cards that actually just had 17… LOL
Funny Jad! Mine must be lost in the mail!!??
Wow that is impressive Carey all those lists. Double wow. Judi
Oh my~! The table of lists really left me dumbfounded, and so as the piles of christmas cards..
hell, i can remember when you saved a penny – from 3 cents to 2 cents, i think – if you just tucked the envelope in instead of sealing it – 2nd class mail instead of first class! but you do have a great tradition going there – your kids will hate you when you pass on, but that’s their problem! – lol. my list isn’t too long anymore and i save the “important” cards – i collect enough other shit to piss my son off with – lol. have a great night and may all those on your list be blessed. peace, Al
ryc: Beowulf. Not recommended.
That’s crazy. It’s times like these that I’m kind of glad I’m anti-religious and don’t send out Christmas cards. LOL! I hate holiday cards or birthday cards as well. If someone wants to get me something, get me something useful. Doesn’t have to be expensive. Well, it’s the thought that counts, but I rather someone say happy whatever than give me a card. I never know where I put those things.
I like you man, but you’re crazy.
Well obviously you spend a great deal of effort keeping track of -who- to send the cards to, but you can’t possibly write as much as I do in each one. Because if you do, you must be cheating.
You’re crazy.
Wow.
wow. that’s impressive!
so like why can’t Mr. white christmas and Mr. 101 work together and give us snow at 70 degrees? peace, Al
Wow, I think you are one of the most organized people I know (if you call me reading your xanga blog knowing you). You just seem so amazing. Every time I read your post I get more interested and curious about you. You travel (or have traveled) all over the world, you have a world full of friends (but don’t seem to talk about close family members a lot – unless I just don’t know they are family), you keep track of EVERYTHING in your life down to the tiniest little thing, you are fun, energetice (and I guess you would have to be to keep up with all those Christmas cards) and you know about everything (I mean all the news, stars and current happenings). I have always known there were people out there like that but just never knew anyone like that on a more personal level (just always hear about them). I look forward to getting my subscription digest every morning when I get up because I can read about what you were thinking or doing the day before. Keep it up – you are just and interesting person! (I still love your photos always) And by the way, do you personalize every card you send with your own signature and maybe a short note? I hate receiving cards that just have a scribbled signature in them or worse a printed one (I just received a card yesterday where you could tell the person ordered them specially made with their signature printed for them by the manufacturer of the cards, then they printed out labels and stuck them on and put it in the mail. Nothing was handwritten. This was not a business at all.)
That’s crazy. I would love to be your grandkid, and hear all your stories as you pull out all the lists, photos and other memorabilia. =D