Okay, so it's that time of year again, and I have to admit it. I get pretty cranky about this card thing...and it's not the sending them. I love to send cards. It's the getting... Sigh. Now, I know you do not send cards to get them or give gifts to get them or the like, and I don't. BUT...it's quite disheartening when you send out, say...50 cards and get back, say...12. I've had years like that. Really, what is wrong with people that they don't send cards any more? I just don't get it. It's so Christmasy, neighborly, friendly, and just well, a tradition.
Now, I don't expect cards back from EVERYONE. Obviously someone old or sick or going through some hard times, I would never in a million years think to expect one back...only, oddly enough, those are usually the people that send them back. It's the ones who have no real excuse other than they just don't want to that really irritate me.
And it's not just the not getting it back. It's the not appreciating them. For instance, I have a friend who I've sent Christmas cards to since...well, I'd say since I've been married, but quite honestly, I did give cards and gifts even in high school to this person. And to this day, I don't think I have EVER received a card back. AND, (here's the deal breaker for me...) no acknowledgement of "thanks for the card" or even better, "I loved the pics of the kids!" Groan. It's just annoying. Don't people have manners any more? I mean, I don't expect a fanfare or a big reward, or even a card, really. A "thank you" or a "I really appreciated the thought" would be nice, though. Something to let me know that my effort even mattered.
Otherwise, why do I bother? Why send out a bunch of personalized cards with my kids' pictures on them and pay out a whole bunch of shipping just to make myself happy?
I guess I sound like a Scrooge, and I'm not, really. Every year I swear I'm not going to send out to who didn't send me one last year, but usually I give in, feeling guilty and send them one anyway. But this year, I may have to just cut a few off. I don't really have the extra money to spend on someone who will likely just throw my thought into the trash can, anyway. I'd rather worry about all my aunts and uncles and cousins who live so far away and who go on and and on to my mother about how glad they were to get the pics of the kids, as they don't get to see them much. For them, I will fork out the money for the cards and the postage with a happy smile, regardless of the card I do or do not get in return. Because I made them smile, and that's what it's supposed to be about, isn't it?
But now presents and what THAT has turned into...oh, that's a whole 'nother post. :)
