Poll | 12/18/2008 12:00 am

Are you sending out Christmas cards this year?

Read more about: Christmas, Greetings, Holidays

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I didn’t mean to come across as cranky but my father-in-law was never peaceful. He came home from WWII with battle fatigue and shell shock, a condition he never fully recovered from. We have tried endlessly to include him in all our activities. I take him to lunch with my friends after his physical therapy making sure he is not isolated. He isn’t happy unless he is being catered to constantly. He needs more help than usual these days because he was just diagnosed with a slight separation in an artery and a small aneurysm. That means keeping his blood pressure down even as he finds ways to be unhappy. My husband says he never recalled a peaceful day growing up. I doubted that until we took his father in when he had an accident. Our lives changed completely once he arrived. I’m sure that if he had therapy years ago things might have been different. I thought I understood where he was coming from because my father was career military. This has been a tremendous adjustment for us all. My father-in-law isn’t my only responsibility. My husband has Myasthenia Gravis and requires help when he is tired. Holidays can be a difficult time when one or both of them require extra care. I try to keep a sense of humor when things happen and realize that this too will pass. I have been criticized in the past for not participating with traditional Christmas activities. That stings when family will criticize. You have to live this kind of situation to understand it. My father-in-law can’t be left alone because he falls without assistance. My immediate family, sisters and brothers, rarely think to offer to help. I realize it isn’t from selfishness but from inexperience.

By Chris Glass` on 12/21/2008 9:29 pm

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I used to happily do the “500 cards” thing each year, as the nog and gingerbread cured, but the children were small—much ado on the holidaze, and I always had my infamous December 26th Open House. As everyone flew the nest (do yo blame them?) in recent years past, I’ve sent New Year’s greetings - there was less stress, less expense, and that more fully expressed my wishes for friends, colleagues, et al. With a vision-impairment, it became a real challenge, but I tried each year. This year, looking over my “list” I remembered how much everyone meant to me, so I have sent out a letter - on that topic. Fun.

By C jay on 12/18/2008 9:30 am

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There are some friends and relatives I simply will not ignore at Christmas time. I enjoy sending out cards and writing notes on all of them. Even though I am late in sending this year, I want these people to know how much I appreciate them in my life. As a Realtor, I also send out cards thanking people and wishing them the best.

By Diana T on 12/18/2008 9:35 am

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I just didn’t feel like it this year, so I didn’t. Funny thing, last year this time, we sold our home, bought a new one, packed and moved in 3 weeks (from a home we’d lived in for 21 years)- and yes, I sent cards then ……

By irish bell on 12/18/2008 9:40 am

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I enjoy the feeling of sending cards. And I try to purchase—or when inspired, create—really unique ones. This past week while I was writing them out and addressing the envelopes, I found myself whistling christmas caroles. It was fun going through my list of family and acquaintance names, enjoying the memories each one evoked. Yes, sometimes a whole year will go by without contact, but such is life. Definitely send to family to help them create a holiday spirit (work and other responsibilities sometimes overpower the most ebullient among us). And I send them to business associates to remind them I’m here and ready to do magic for them! And while I’m at it: Merry merry to all of you wOwers! Falah-la-la-la-lala-lah-lahhhh.

By rocky rocky on 12/18/2008 9:42 am

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With my chaos life. I find I have to get them done before Thanksgiving drop them in the mail after Thanksgiving. Or they won’t get done at all. This year I did not that. Last year was a different story where nothing got done.

By Grande Camper on 12/18/2008 9:53 am

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Lost my husband in Iraq last year and learned a profound lesson about Christmas. Christmas has to be about doing what you WANT to do, not feel that you have to do. I sent out cards this year, a few at a time, did them as long as I enjoyed the process and then stopped until I felt like doing it again. Today I am doing the same thing with baking cookies for gifts. I used to bake dozens of cookies to give to teachers and friends, and, and, and… This year I bought smaller tins and am giving a little less. Leaving a little more time to feel like celebrating. And finding that I do have moments of celebration in the doing…because I am not so darn tired from my expectations

By CYNTHIA NEIL on 12/18/2008 10:18 am

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Cynthia, I’m very sorry for your loss….and agree that everything should be done because we want to, not because we are sheep-slaves to commercialization.

By Spa Moi on 12/18/2008 12:34 pm

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Love the avatar, Spa Moi!! And, I agree and save the trees…cards are going the way of the newspaper and for good reason. Pick up the phone, send an email or write those close to you once during the year and enclose a picture if you want. A huge win for wealth, health, ecology and the post office!

By Agyness O on 12/18/2008 2:11 pm

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wow Cynthia… can’t even imagine. so sorry for your loss. and so happy for you that you’ve discovered some good things for yourself over the year. Merry Christmas.

By Chrome Toe on 12/18/2008 2:31 pm

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I remember growing up I used to help my mother address and sign the hundreds of cards they sent out each year. I have cut back more and more, only sending 9 out this year not counting family. None of our friends really send cards anymore. I have done a letter the past few years but there is just nothing going on anymore that I feel confident would make interesting reading. I enjoy getting cards and letters. This year we haven’t gotten any cards except for business and family. Hummmmm. Well, there is still a week!

By Hazel Lewis on 12/18/2008 10:32 am

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The inbox is the new mailbox. So all of our seasons greetings are going out via email. And we created our own holiday graphics and text, including family photos. So much more personal than a store-bought card, no?!?.

By Lisa Hanock-Jasie on 12/18/2008 10:34 am

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One of my greatest joys is sending Christmas cards to just about everyone I know. I particularly take great care to make sure I send one to all of the doctors who have taken care of me, and my family, over many years. I feel there is never enough that I can do to thank them for their miracles. By the way, this question to-day has provided me with a wonderful opportunity to send my special greetings to all of you. So… to everyone at WOWOWOW - the Founders, the publishers - correspondents - writers - and other staff (I’m not sure how to address properly)…and respectfully - to all the lovely people who send in their interesting and thoughtful comments. I wish you all a wonderful December Holiday and of course, all the very best for the coming New Year. Blessings to all of you. It’s so nice to meet you !

By Lauriate Roly on 12/18/2008 10:57 am