From Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, there are all sorts of opportunities to get together with friends and say hello. Part of the holiday tradition is sending greeting cards. A century ago, it was common to send Christmas and New Year's postcards. Postage for them at that time was just a penny.
Last week, I heard someone say "I haven't received very many Christmas cards this year." I thought, how sad it is that computer e-mail has replaced the special cards and letters that people used to receive. I am a family genealogist, and I love old things. I have in my possession letters that were written in the late 1800's from my great grandparents, letters written in 1918 to my grandma from my grandpa when he was in WWI, letters written in the 1980's to me from my mom when I moved away from home, and I have saved special Christmas cards signed by my family who have passed on.
I love making cards. I make cards for people’s birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, sympathy, and to say "Thank You." Toward the end of each month, I sit down with pad and paper, and write down known events for the next month. Then, I draw up card ideas for each event.
Like many of you, I've been conditioned to believe that I can only express my sincerest thoughts with a card I picked off a rack in a store.
While I usually find something that fits the occasion, I'm really only settling with what's available. The cards I find sort of express my feelings and style, but only slightly more than if I'd closed my eyes and just grabbed something up.
