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I BOUGHT AND SENT 16 Christmas cards this year. Why spend $6.99 for the box of cards and $9.60 for stamps? I frequently communicate with most of the recipients via email and texts—but that’s why the cards are special.
Apparently, many other Americans feel the same way. Billions of cards are still bought and presumably sent each year, despite the cost of postage, according to the Greeting Card Association.
I could send virtual cards. But do they stand out amid the blur of other messages, both personal and commercial, in someone’s email inbox? It’s simply more personal to know the sender took the time to choose cards, buy stamps, address the envelopes and write a personal note. It’s an extra effort for me because the quality of my penmanship has suffered over time. I blame it on decades in newspaper journalism, where I developed my own style of shorthand. To be honest, I can barely read my own cursive, so I print carefully.
Growing up in the 1960s, I remember my parents would receive enough cards to fill a basket. Everyone sent cards, even if they were family members we were likely to see on Christmas. I loved opening them up to see the variety. I was always impressed by people who had paid for embossed cards with their signatures, but I now realize that wasn’t very personal and perhaps a tad pretentious.
It’s quaint to consider how envelopes were addressed with formal and sexist courtesy titles. For example, a widow was Mrs. John Smith, as though she still had no identity of her own even after her husband died. A divorced woman could still be a missus and use her ex-husband’s last name, but not his first or even her first name. Her maiden name was now her first name, such as Mrs. Jones Smith. That’s what etiquette expert Emily Post advised. Thankfully, times have changed.
That said, I always thought it special to see cards to me addressed as Master Ronald Wayne before I became a mister.
Starting in 1964, the U.S. Postal Service adopted a cartoon character named Mr. ZIP to prod the nation toward more efficient and accurate deliveries by using ZIP codes. Did you know ZIP is an acronym for “zone improvement plan”? It could be a question in the next trivia game at the local pub.
To make room for the five-digit ZIP codes, the USPS pushed the consistent use of two-letter abbreviations for states. But I recall some friends and relatives still used Penna., instead of Pa., for Pennsylvania.
Cards any time of year can lift the mood of elderly friends and family members who might live alone. I sent cards regularly to a favorite aunt who didn’t have email and who was difficult to talk to on the phone. Sending a personal, handwritten card can mean a lot to people like her.
The Idaho Commission on Aging launched a campaign this year urging people to send cards to residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. It’s a wonderful idea. I hope more states do the same.
As a teenager, I gave my grandmother a large box of mixed greeting cards and roll of stamps for Christmas. She was living in a group home for elderly and had an extremely tight budget, but loved sending cards. Months later, she mentioned that she needed more get well and sympathy cards, because that’s what everyone used most. She had been selling cards and stamps to her co-residents for fifty cents, because getting to the store was a major chore for all of them. I kept her supplied for years.
I’ve provided greeting cards and stamps to other older relatives and friends over the years. Many enjoy correspondence, and as my mother once remarked, sending a card often results in a phone call a few days later. Providing stamps is key, as elderly relatives are often struggling with tight budgets and limited transportation.
I’ve kept a stack of stamped postcards and sheets of address labels on a side table for years. Spending two minutes to write a couple of lines gets me text messages from my younger relatives. A few even send cards or call occasionally.
I still send physical Christmas Cards and Birthday Cards. I like sending Birthday Cards because I like to acknowledge my friend’s special day. Have to admit I even enjoy the purchasing because I can’t resist sending a golfer a card with the golf theme. Yes, it’s probably very hokey.
I still exchange physical cards with some relatives and friends, but I am, er, elderly. I also send e-cards to rather more people, but they are quite elaborate, with animation and music. If you are going to send e-cards I highly recommend using https://www.jacquielawson.com/ – I think it costs me $12/year for as many cards as I choose to send.
Ron, I enjoyed this. And it definitely brought back memories. My mother was artistic and the unique Christmas cards she created each year were a real sensation.
I, too, hope the simple art of handwritten cards and letters isn’t lost forever. One thing is for sure, though—the rarer they become, the more special they will be.
I sent out Mom’s Christmas cards for several years due to her failing eyesight. Overcoming other medical issues, she finally had cataract surgery last year. This month, she sent them herself. I bought the stamps. She just turned 91.
Thanks for some fond memories. I now remember my brothers receiving cards addressed as ” Master” and I was also intrigued when someone sent an embossed signature card!
Our family is partial to postcards. Much cheaper than a greeting card to purchase and send. One line is acceptable, comments about the weather are appropriate, silliness is appreciated. Collecting freebies whenever possible is the way to go.
I am currently sending a postcard every 3-4 days to a friend receiving extensive cancer treatment. The postcard doesn’t require a lot of effort or concentration to read and I feel like I am staying in touch without overwhelming her will any obligation to stay on the phone or respond when she has nothing but her medical info to share.
We have been teaching the younger generation how to write them. Kinda like a text – quick and easy, here’s where to put the address. Put the address in your contacts on your phone! During a recent trip we took breaks to write postcards, which of course meant we needed to grab a cup of coffee or tea and sit down and enjoy sharing our “witty” comment.
I admit to falling out of the habit of sending Christmas cards a decade ago. But this year, I got back into it. I made a point of delivering a dog-themed Christmas card (and small bag of dog treats) to each of the clients who used our dog-training services this year. We only had a handful of clients this year since we just started the business, but the gesture was overwhelmingly appreciated.
Wayne, I’m guilty of not sending cards, but I love to receive them. When mostly house-bound while caring for my sick father over several years, my usually active mother developed the habit of sending notes to her elderly friends. Some were in nursing homes and not receiving much correspondence. Sharing a kind thought by mail is a good way to share love.