I love receiving personal mail as much as the next person. Thus, Christmas-card season is one of my favorite mail-times of the year. However, when I open up a card from an old friend and all I find are signatures . . . I am disappointed. I want a breezy summary of the year or at least a few bullet points or something! How about a handwritten sentence or a promise to email or visit?
I hate the Christmas newsletter bragging as much as the next person . . . my blood turns green from envying all the Hawaiian vacations and tropical cruises, but still, I’d rather have that kind of news than no news at all. Tell me how much smarter your kids are than mine and how they were invited to a Hollywood premiere based on their cuteness alone. But tell me something.
At the very least, send a picture! Preferably one of someone with a finger in her nose. (Ah-ha! An excuse to post this picture again!) 
Now, I must go write my amusing, informative and yet completely devoid-of-bragging newsletter. You should, too!
Actual Unretouched Photo 
This picture is so so fabulous.
I sent out an attempt-to-be-funny one, but the problem is audience–when you’re sending it out to close friends and distant relatives it’s hard to know exactly how to be funny–I have a major fear that I came off as all snarky and overly sarcastic.
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I did a Poem this year instead of a letter. Here is the 1st Stanza:
Twas late in December
The Holiday letter undone
As usual the job falls onto the shoulders of one
One year I did a quiz. Mentioned something someone had done – but left out the ending – and gave readers 4 choices of answers. It was a humorous hit to say the least. I’ll be posting mine to my blog once it’s sent.
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This picture is great!!!
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Ha! I just mailed off my card to you — with only signatures for the first time in 17 years. But I hope you forgive me…didn’t I just send you one of those newsy informative newsletters with pictures anyway (Please say yes, I thought i did last month)????? If not, I will mail it. Let me know.
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Please post your Christmas newsletter! As I will not be getting a card – I would love to see what you write…unless it is too private for the blog 🙂
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Send me your address and I’ll send you a card. Complete with picture, briefly bragging newsletter, and a poem to inspire. 🙂 And I ran across a funny post about Christmas letters over at Pioneer Woman.
http://pioneerwoman.typepad.com/confessions_of_a_pioneer_/2006/12/a_christmas_let.html
Made me laugh!
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