Monday, December 11, 2006, 05:25
Another -- What's Bugging Me
Here is what is on Deanna's mind today --
Hi LeAnn,
Speaking of Christmas cards, I LOVE to get cards...and if I only hear from that person once a year, I'm still delighted...because it's so much better than not hearing from them at all. I even love getting the
printed Christmas letters they send out to everyone.
Sure, a note hand-written especially for me would be nicer, and sometimes I actually get those...but I still feel privileged that they even thought of me or felt I was worth spending a 39 cent stamp on...even an inexpensive dollar store card is just fine...and if I only get a signature inside, I'm still happy to hear from them and be remembered. In fact, I even send cards to people I've never met who have ads requesting card showers in magazines like Cappers or Good Old Days. I can't afford to give much to charity, so this is my little way of trying to brighten a lonely shut-in's
holiday...because I know how much it means just to be in someone's thoughts when it seems like everyone else but you is out partying and celebrating. Isn't that what the Salvation Army and the United Way agencies do...try to offer comfort to those in need? Well, I consider sending cards my personal way of giving, and certainly $20 for stamps and cards are inexpensive.
What bugs me is when I put a lot of thought and time into choosing the perfect gift according to the person's interests...or spend money I probably shouldn't have...or work night and day on a handmade gift...and
then they probably couldn't tell me a month later what I gave them because it meant so little to them. How many times has anyone else given a lovely baby or wedding shower gift...or gone to a wedding where your
gift wasn't even opened at the reception...and you never even got a thank you or acknowledgement it was received if you mailed it to them? Whatever happened to manners and etiqette? So this Christmas, I'll be
sending a Christmas card to everyone who means anything at all to me...or anyone who was significant in my life, even if it was 20 or 30 years ago...because for me, that's what Christmas is all about...spreading peace and good will or forgiveness in some cases...an inexpensive card and a 39 cent stamp are affordable even on my low income. But, due to
economic times getting harder despite what "some" politicians try to tell us, I will be leaving my credit card in my wallet more. It is my little gift to myself...not spending more than I can afford...and I'll really feel joyous and at peace when I can pay all of my credit card off in January, not worrying about bills for the next six months after my gifts have long been forgotten.
So I respectfully disagree, LeAnn and Lucille, about not wanting to receive Christmas cards. Sometimes that's all people can do...they don't have time to write a personal note to each recipient...but at least they haven't crossed us off their Christmas card list. What we all really crave is more personal attention...a visit, a phone call or a special home cooked meal or treat...but a card with a signature is all we get. But let's try to look at it as I do...opening the mailbox and finding a Christmas card from someone I haven't heard for since last year is enough to really "make my day" and put me in a better mood for the holidays.
And if we would only try harder to practice the spirit of Christmas throughout the year, the world would be a much better place. Let's not forget that people are hungry throughout the year...there are children who don't have decent, warm clothes to wear to school, let alone appropriate toys to play with...and just look around you because you will become more aware of older, lonely people who have no one to attend to
their needs, be it a trip to the doctor or help getting groceries home...their sidewalk or driveway needs snow shoveled off or their grass needs mowing in the summer. Let's don't wait until another tragedy like
9/11 causes us to wake up and decide to learn our next door neighbor's name. Could we all just give up a couple fast food meals or Starbucks coffees every week and instead drop the money we would have spent into a red kettle...you know, the bell ringer whose eyes you try to avoid as you scurry inside the mall to buy just one more gift for each family member, although your tree is already overflowing underneath?
It's just a different perspective on Christmas cards...but to each his own...we all have priorities, and I refuse to give up sending cards. Heck, I'll even keep sending them long after I've probably been crossed off someone's list, thinking it probably went astray in the mail last year...smile.
Deanna
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Deanna,
You make an excellent point. Spreading peace and goodwill *is* what Christmas is all about. And I suppose that can come in many forms. (I still wish people could at least write, "I fine. How you?")
I always dig around in my purse or pockets to find money for the Salvation Army kettle. My grandmother was a member of the Salvation Army. Besides, I figure it's the least I can do after people volunteer to spend time out in the cold ringing a bell. But you are right about that, too, because if we could all give up just one or two little things and the give the money to charity, a lot more could be accomplished.
I like the idea, too, of giving oneself the gift of fewer charges on the credit card. I suppose the credit card company doesn't like it much, but who cares? I'm not crazy about 20 or 22 percent interest!
Any other gripes? Let's hear 'em. . .
LeAnn R. Ralph
Sunday, December 10, 2006, 17:52
More -- What's Bugging Me
Lucille writes:
LeAnn, Among the hundred little things that bug me is, Xmas Cards . You don't hear from people all year.... and then in December you are flooded with cards with nothing more than a name. Not even a "we're doing well -- bye" . . .or the ones that just sign Mr & Mrs Somebody, and you rack your brains as to who the heck they are. I used to send out cards and always
with a personal note. Now I save my 39 cents and my time. And wish the person sending me one would do the same. NO it's not a "baa humbug" attitude, just one of those things that bug me enough to stop what I
call "Christmas Insanity" .. There I feel better.. ( GRIN ) Lucille
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I agree with Lucille completely about the Christmas cards. I've always said, if people are going to send out Christmas cards, the least they could do is write "I fine. How you?" But no. They just sign it. Or worse yet, they get the cards that are already stamped with the
family name -- "The Smiths" in lovely gold foil.
I, too, think they can just as well save the money for the card and the postage and donate it to charity. There are plenty of charities out there that could use the money. The local United Way has a letter to the editor in the Sunday paper today. Their contributions are down this year by over $100,000 (for just this area), and they don't want to cut funding to programs for the homeless or programs to strengthen families, but don't know what they are going to do without the contributions.
Anybody else got a gripe or a pet peeve? Send 'em along and I'll post them to the Rural Route 2 blog.
LeAnn R. Ralph