As a child my family had a wonderful tradition of sending Christmas letters along with or in lieu of Christmas cards. The letters gave us updates on the events of the year...we shared everything...first steps, new pets, family trips, broken limbs. My memories of the letters are shiny and happy, full of anticipation and joy. Sometimes I didn't know who the letters were from, but my parents would always explain, providing a wonderful lesson on my family tree. Some letters were boastful and proud, others were humorous and light-hearted, but every one of the letters was laced with love and appreciation for what life had provided that year. As a child, those letters were priceless glimpses into the lives of my far-away family members, and warm hugs from the families I saw every Sunday.I remember a year when my parents placed the "responsibility" of writing the letter into my young, eager, nervous hands. Wait, me?! You want me to write this year's Christmas Letter? Yes...they wanted me to write the letter, and I did. I don't remember the contents, nor do I remember the year. But I do remember how I fretted over the words that I put onto that paper. From what point of view do I write this letter? What events were important enough to share in this extraordinarily important letter? Do I attempt humor or keep it simple and sincere? The questions were endless, yet I managed to do it...I wrote the Christmas letter. Again, I forget what I wrote about, but I do remember why I wrote it. I wrote it because it was a family tradition...a tradition of celebrating the year's memories and sending love and good wishes for the upcoming year.
For us, 2010 has been a CRAZY year full of firsts and lasts, graduations and first days, surgeries and follow-ups, celebrations and parties, laughter and stress. A year that I'm excited to wrap up, but sad to see go. My babies are getting "too big for their britches" and I'm sad to see them grow up, but so proud of who they are becoming. Faith's reading like a pro, just became a Daisy and can't wait to start up tennis again in January. Connor is sleeping in a big-boy bed, still loves hats and is working on his ABC's. Kevin is enjoying work and the excitement of assisting in the development of the County's new 911 building. I'm currently wondering why I'm typing this and not grading research papers...oh, and hoping Santa brings me a puppy.
I recently read an article which declared that Christmas cards are dead. It argues that since we live in a world full of instant electronic communication, there is no point to sending Christmas cards. Want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas? Send a mass text. Want to show off the adorable picture of your kids in matching outfits? Post it on facebook. Want to send a personal message to a close friend? Put it on twitter. I understand the point...why spend money on cards and stamps, write out addresses and lick those God-forsaken envelopes when cheerful greetings can be sent with the click of a button? For me, the answer lies in the tangible. These Christmas wishes aren't the same when I receive an alert on my phone; instead I want to open up the envelopes to see what's inside.Years later as I send out my own Christmas cards, I find myself remembering the letters I got so excited about, and now I understand why it's been years since I've sent or received a traditional Nagle-style Christmas letter. I think it's because life has gotten in the way. Busy schedules paired with the convenience of fancy personalized photo cards has made it easy for me to check the Christmas cards off my list each year...but for some reason this year something is forcing me to pause, and reflect...to celebrate the memories that have been made. I think it's the way Faith poured over the years of collected Christmas cards that I'd packed away along with the Christmas tree. Maybe it's my own craving for family traditions that kept driving me to write my blog version of the annual Christmas letter (Hmmm, a Christmas letter sent to all with the click of the mouse? Am I killing Christmas cards too?).
So this year when the Christmas cards began arriving, I started handing them over to the kids to let them see who was wishing us well this year. Faith works to open the envelopes, Connor bends the cards as he takes them out and together we hang them up as we talk about who the cards are from. Faith comments on the photos, Connor likes taking the tape from the roll, and I am happy knowing that as brief as this moment is, we're creating a tradition.
So, with this letter I send so much love and best wishes for the new year.
