Do you write an annual Holiday letter?

[Cheyenne]

I'm curious, with all the writers we have here, do you write Holiday letters at this time of the year to send to your family and friends?

I started to write one almost 15 years ago. People who get them are polite and tell me they look forward to them each year. For me, it is a great way to document both the highs and lows of each year. Recently, when I wanted to share more of my past with a couple of people, I made copies of all of those annual Holiday letters for them to read. I realize they also serve as a chronicle of my life, reminding me of details I've forgotten. I'm glad I have them.

 

[Coolville]

I have email.

 

[Cheyenne]

Good point. Maybe I should have started by asking if anyone sends good old-fashoned Christmas cards anymore. I do.

And I have email, too. But there are a lot of family members and distant friends who don't use it. Those that do use email also don't know everything in my life- I may only "talk" to them once or twice a year. For me, the holidays are really a catch up time for communication.

I also enjoy getting the Holiday letters from other people, much more than the cards that come with just a signature and a "Merry Christmas" note.

 

[SexyWench]

I find that this time of year is way too busy to sit down and write a letter. I do, however, send cards and write letters throughout the year instead. Most friends and family have email, but that isn't the forum for long rambling writings.

 

[Rubyfruit]

This is the second year in a row that I haven't even sent out a card. I usually spend all of my time, taking the perfect photo of the kids (wherein they all look like little angels) and hand-making the cards.

I think the letters are cool. One year I got one that was written "from" the family dog and his take on the happenings of the house during that year. It was pretty funny.

 

[thumbs2_ca]

no damnit

I think it is a great idea. I get one every year from a friend of my wife's family that I have never met. I look forward to it because it is well done and with quite a bit of humour despite the ups and downs.
I think I will make that a news years resolution to do next year.

 

[Jewelz]

I haven't started the letter idea yet. I want to. But my life has been so complicated this year, it wouldn't make for a very cheerful letter. Except, of course, to spread the gossip about us LOL

I usually send cards the old fashioned way too. Haven't done it for 2 years though. I can't seem to get on the right track with my life and maybe soon I will have a fairytale Christmas season.

 

[Secret Kate]

I send one!

I've done it for the past 3 years. A lot of my family tell me they are glad I do it. I don't send it to everyone, just family and friends who I am close with, but not so close that we keep in touch on a monthly basis.

I write about the whole year - taking people through fun things that we do as a family (Scouts, school, sports, this year we moved, and my husband had a heart attack in Feb. - so lots of news as well as the fun stuff).

It's fun. I've also received about 3 letters this year from different friends too. Nice to hear what's going on in their lives as well.

This year though I included our email address in the letter - and amazingly enough I've actually heard from some of my cousins already who I hadn't spoken with in years. So it helps to keep all of us in touch in more than one way.

 

[pipercatt]

I do send out cards, and this is the first year that I sent a little letter inside of it. The reason being is there are some family and friends that I don't keep up with except once or twice a year, who probably didn't know I'd gotten divorced and will be moving in a couple of weeks. So I put a note in their cards telling them that. I tried to keep it upbeat as much as I could.

 

[juicylips]

Good point. Maybe I should have started by asking if anyone sends good old-fashoned Christmas cards anymore. I do.

*Raising hand*

No letter, though.

 

[someplace]

I used to write the letters and do the cards too. This year's would be way too depressing to even joke about, so I'm staying away from the entire operation.

There have been years when I was too busy to get the cards done and I only got through 1/2 of the alphabet in my address book. The next year I did the second 1/2.

Then I wised up and found some ridiculously naughty (and funny) cards with turkeys on them and sent them out before Thanksgiving. Those were fun, although my mother thought they were in incredibly bad taste. I will never be able to please that woman!

 

[Cheyenne]

Re: I send one!

This year though I included our email address in the letter - and amazingly enough I've actually heard from some of my cousins already who I hadn't spoken with in years. So it helps to keep all of us in touch in more than one way.

I do that, too! Haven't heard from any distant cousins yet, but it does come in handy for the people who have lost it during the year. Makes it easy for them to get back intouch.