Christmas Letters

[Truth Detector]

OK.

I'll apologize up front to those who send Christmas letters because I'm sure you mean well but as the recipient of several each year permit me to say DON'T SEND CHRISTMAS LETTERS!!!!!

[rev-ed]

Typing mine up as we speak. Nothing too long or detailed. Just basic names, ages an interests. If you can't handle it, don't read it.

[skypigeon]

You know, TD, I used to feel the same way... and then, two years ago, my right hand got so arthritic from writing individual messages in Christmas cards, the following year I sent nearly none at all.

Which bothered a lot of people, so this year, I came up with a nice letter that covered the basics without sounding smarmy, and added a cute picture of our Christmas tree with the cat sleeping under it.

I think your real gripe is most people have no idea how to write the things, other than to come off sounding better than they are. True?

[cheeseczar]

The wife and I had this discussion on Saturday after receiving one in the mail. We came to the same conclusion as TD.

[rev-ed]

Question: If you don't want the letter, do you want the card?

Or is it OK to say Hi, but we just can't tell you how we're doing?

[cheeseczar]

Question: If you don't want the letter, do you want the card?

Or is it OK to say Hi, but we just can't tell you how we're doing?

In our case, we sometimes get letters that tell us much more then we really want to know. Some of the things in those letters really are none of our business, but some folks insist on saying them regardless.
It's really no big deal to us, but we find some things in them rather odd.

[akh]

This is a tough one...I used to really dislike them, they often seemed to be an opportunity to brag about how well everything was going for the sender. In part, as you are younger, your friends are all close at hand. You know what they are doing and how... But as I've gotten older, and I seen how hard it is to stay in touch with friends and family, sometimes this may be the only way to "catch up" on life and happenings. As Jeff mentioned, some people want to share WAY too much detail on sad, depressing, and odd goings on...but sometimes these letters are cathartic for the sender too. The Christmas after my Dad died (in early Dec.) my Mom sent a holiday letter that included way too much detail on Dad's illness and eventual passing, but it was good for her to be able to write these things and there were friends and family who wanted/needed to hear the whole story.

IMO, send 'em if you want to. The reader doesn't have to read it if they don't want to.

[skypigeon]

That's my gut too, akh. At worst, they're brag sheets ("Our little Cynthia was so thrilled to have an audience with the Pope last summer...") or guilt trips ("I'm well, despite my arthritis and gout making it difficult to clean the house and fix the leaky roof and plumbing, but I get by").

At best, they let you know if loved ones are alive and reasonably well, and what everyone's doing, ideally in less than half an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper.

[Ren Butler]

As kids, we always used to make fun of a distant cousin who always included her bowling average in her Christmas letter.

[turnrightgoleft]

I enjoy them all. The brag sheets, the guilt sheets, the comedy. One of my favorites each year was a guilt/comedy sheet that right out of the "Gloom, despair, and agony on me" files. It was a hoot.

[step33T]

Tis the season to be easily annoyed

Short letter with picture of the family - ok - THANK YOU!
Card - THANK YOU!
Long detailed letter - please don't - THANK YOU!

[Media Boy]

Lighten up, everyone. If someone wants to take the time to send you an update on their family once a year, read it and move on. Be thankful that they care enough to include you.

I like hearing what people are up to, even if sometimes it comes across as over the top. It's a letter, people. And we all know how difficult it can be to really convey things (especially feelings) via the written word. Give each other the benefit of a doubt in the spirit of the season (i.e. that God loved us so much that He sent His Son for us as a sacrifice for our sins.)

Merry Christmas!

[speedwaygirl56]

I enjoy receiving Christmas letters. I like to hear what's going on in the lives of my friends and family, even if they are bragging or things aren't so well.

Don't you find it interesting that some will spend hours daily posting and reading posts on the internet yet can't be bothered with a Christmas update from friends and family, no matter how poorly-written, bragadocious or corny the letters may be?

[Grover]

Is it bad that I send out X-Mas letters full of outlandish lies?

Last year I won a Nobel Prize, threw a chair at Austin Croshere and captured Saddam Hussein. One year I made the 'Blair Witch Project', another year I stood in front of a tank while visiting China. I was thinking that this year I could leave Atlanta after my bride ran away and work all summer as a dam inspector in New Orleans...

[Truth Detector]

I enjoy receiving Christmas letters. I like to hear what's going on in the lives of my friends and family, even if they are bragging or things aren't so well.

Don't you find it interesting that some will spend hours daily posting and reading posts on the internet yet can't be bothered with a Christmas update from friends and family, no matter how poorly-written, bragadocious or corny the letters may be?

Is that different than somebody who challenges and argues on the internet but welcomes any and all letters?