A quick Saturday hello, everyone! And a reminder to go over to The CLASSroom today to catch my video and project over there with my friend Dawn Wolslagle from Wplus9 – tags that double as ornaments!
Yesterday I posted a quick vlog on my 2nd channel – yes, I know, it’s been a while! I have plans for that channel, no worries. It’s comin’! Watch the short vlog below or click HERE to watch on YouTube. And let me know when YOU start to remove folks from your list. Eeeeeep!
You are normal Sandy. I do the same as you. Have a wonderful Christmas and all the very best in our New Year. You are a blessing to so many.
I haven’t counted this year’s number of cards, but I’m guessing it’s around 175. I come from a small town where everyone knew each other and I’m still lucky enough to be in touch with people I knew in the first grade, even though I moved from there many years ago. I come from a family of 7 siblings, and both my parents came from families of 7 siblings, so there’s lots of relatives. I worked for 30 years in the often-insular law enforcement community, where strong bonds are made and last forever. I have given up sending handmade cards to all of them, as I did for a few years. I don’t keep track of who reciprocates and am grateful that I have the resources to send to those I want. Yes, some have slipped from the list over the years as some have moved away and moved on. I have toyed with the idea of keeping track, but haven’t done so yet. If I were to do so, I’d make a separate spreadsheet for those I drop so I could “reactivate” them if they get in touch some years later. I have 2 friends who are quite capable of picking up a pen and signing their name, but I only get a letter from them if I don’t send them a card! I guess they figure I’m aware they’re thinking of me, whether they let me know or not…. What does irk me is a couple of my nieces and nephews who never acknowledge my elderly mother’s cards, letters & cash gifts. My dilemma is more when it’s OK to drop relatives from the list.
Loved this rant. It is something I struggle with all the time. Everyone LOVES my cards…but they rarely send a card to me. I know this isn’t what it is all about but… I like getting cards too. I belong to a card making group. There are 8 of us. Only 4 are actively sending any cards. These are women in their 50s and up, no women with little babies. I send cards for every holiday, birthdays, and sometimes sympathy. For example, I sent out 70 Thanksgiving cards and received 8. Pretty bad. I will always send to the elderly, widows etc. But really, I think I need to pare the list way down. What say you?
Pare down—-but it’s so hard to remember we send because we love to, not because we want them back 🙁
I remember growing up that my parents had a Christmas card book that contained addresses and then boxes to check if you got a card from that person. I enjoy sending cards, so I just send them. I do weed out those that I haven’t had any contact with from time to time.
I was just wondering what other people did in this situation! I feel much better now. I purged quite a few this year. If I dont get a card from them, they dont get one from me. Of course, there are exceptions; family, old friends, etc. In the past I have made all of my cards, but when my twin grandsons were born 15 months ago, I started doing photo cards. They are expensive, so I cant send as many as I used too! I alsosend a lot of birthday cards throughout the year. I worry that sending cards is going out of style. That would be so sad!
Sandy ~ your post is so timely. I’ve been struggling with this subject for a few years now. It costs so much to make cards for people who don’t care. What really got my attention was a couple of years ago when I got a card from someone who I had NO idea who it was. The following year mystery solved when I got another with a Christmas letter that finally gave me the clue: it was from the AUNT of a woman who used to work from me more than 20 years ago. Reading the detailed life of a complete stranger each year was a bit weird. Not even a recognizable signature on the card. When I saw that she had farmed out the chore of my Christmas card to someone I had never even met I figured it was time to let go of my humongous list. This years cards are taking considerably less time and going to people I want to stay in touch with…
I send cards to family and immediate friends. Total 20-30, havent counted this year. I find it sad that I recieve only 3 or 4 a year and feel blessed so e took the time to send me one. I purged a few years ago and crossed those off who who never sent me a card ir if a card comes back. I refuse to not send cards because I don’t want to give up the tradition, even if they get mailed on Christmas Eve.
I only make about 15 cards. They are family or good friends. I make a few extra for those who send a card. But returned cards are scratched off. Or if we don’t have any relationship any longer then they are off. Years ago I bought a book for us to keep track of who send and who doesn’t. We have erased people if a year or three go by with no response back.
A few years ago I actually took the time to create a spreadsheet for Christmas, so I have at least one little organised area of my life 🙂 Over the last couple of years I have been keeping track of the cards I receive, with a view to keeping the list manageable. However, I’ve only taken people off if my card is returned. There are some that I have not heard from in at least two years, so next year may be the year to prune that list.
I don’t think you are weird, but let me give you another perspective. About 10-15 years ago, I had a bad decade. Maybe it was only 6 years, but life was really really hard. Christmas cards were one of the things that did not make my list. The crisis has passed and now I’m sending cards again..and of course making them! There are a few people (a lot!) that stopped sending cards during that time and not all of them I can find again, when I’d love to send them one. I completely understand not wanting to make 150 handmade cards I make 35-45. But I’ll not drop someone off my list after a few years, because what if they are in that very dark space where I was and a card is a small light in their life?
But that being said, prune your list when you feel it’s time. Perhaps they don’t care about cards or perhaps they just aren’t in a place to reciprocate.
Love your spirit and your videos!! And a card from you? What a treat!! Here’s hoping I’m lucky!
I send cards to family just because but I have slimmed down my list of card giving the past couple of years. basically for me if I haven’t heard or talked to a person in around 5 years then I figure it’s time to cut them out. so needless to say my list like you has gone from around 125 down to about 50. with that said Happy Holidays and it’s time for me to address my cards and get them out in the mail!
stamping sue
http://stampingsueinconnecticut.blogspot.com/
We send about 50 or more. Our list has been cut back to family and close friends. I just can’t get on board with greetings onkine.
I, coincidentally, stumbled upon your method of purging my card list many years ago. Like you, I always send to family, but extended family gets the same rules as friends. I’m talking about my mom’s cousins, folks who divorced a family member – yeah. My list grew a bit this year beause I relocated to this state in order to be closer to my grandkids. I’m in a tiny town now, but the folks here have made me feel so welcome – had to add another dozen. But I’m lucky – I only have 2 siblings and they had 2 children each, as did I. Just happened that way – so I made 48 cards this year, and that’s a big list for me! I can’t imagine how you handle 150 and stay sane! I look forward to starting my cardmaking in August every year – and I still barely make it by the December cut off of the 15th. Kudos to you, but yeah, purge that list!
That’s so generous of you Sandy! The people who receive the cards will have a brighter day I’m sure.
Normal? Really?? (Who needs it!)
I’m guessing all 150 of those cards you’re sending are hand made by you… How awesome to be on your Christmas card list!
I only send a few cards anymore to people I don’t get to keep in touch with, all custom designed because I enjoy it. But I can’t handle a huge list because of time constraints. And I have whittled down my circle over the past many years, so it works…
Yes, I agree this is hard. I’m facing this too–as I thought I needed a certain number, probably didn’t make “enough” and am looking at that list. I am cutting out a few people–and unfortunately adding some this year, as I reconnected with many of my cousins who attended my brother’s funeral just a month ago. I live in AZ, he lived in MN and most of the family is there. But many of my cousins, whom I haven’t seen in decades, traveled an hour or more to pay their respects. It was awesome–and it was like it had been days instead of years. So I’m adding those folks to my list this year. I’m also combining–my cousin is now caring for her Dad full time, so they both don’t need separate cards, together they will get one. Makes sense! Thanks for ranting on this issue.
Hello Sandy, 150 cards are a lot to send. My list used to be that long. I found that many of those people did not respond, so after several years I purged my list also. I must add that I did not delete family members. Now my list is manageable and I have more time to write notes inside many of the cards. Christmas cards should be fun to send and not a chore.
Please do not feel guilty! You are a kind and compassionate person. Have a Blessed Christmas!!
Thank you for all you do!
Linda Pasmore
It is totally normal to shorten your list especially when you have 150. I always keep family on my list and have some others on it too. I just like to let them know I’m thinking of them.
I have found it interesting and sometimes a little surprising just who really enjoys the handmade cards I send. One year I just didn’t have the time to create cards so I bought some to send out. Later, when visiting my father-in-law he said he had something he wanted to show me. He took me into his bedroom where he had built rows and rows of shelves. Displayed on those shelves he had each and every handmade card I had ever sent him. Now I’ve been married to his son for 35+ years so you do the math. I did not realize just how much he appreciated them so NO MATTER WHAT I promised myself that he will always receive handmade cards from us.
Crafty hugs,
Dawn
I send cards to all family that I have addresses for! I do have a sister who doesn’t let me know where she moves to from year to year so she doesn’t get one but that’s a story for another time. 🙂 I love getting to send to nieces and nephews that are just now starting their own households. It just makes me happy to do it! I also send them to my friends but that is a much shorter list than family. That said though, it’s still less than 60 cards total. I don’t blame you for wanting to cull out some of 150! That’s a LOT of work and expense. So I vote, nope! Not weird at all!
I have done a family photo picture Christmas card ever year since my first child ‘s Christmas in 1983! Now we have spouses, girlfriends, and grandchildren in the picture for 2015. I keep a scrap book of only these Christmas cards and we have such fun looking back on the memories! Regardless- I send cards to family every year! I have about 20-25 friends that will never get taken off the list even if I do not hear from them each year. I feel that things happen in peoples lives and times get sad or hectic. If I can reach out and send some love every year, I believe eventually, I will hear from them again when the time is right. If the card comes back “unknown address”- I will leave them on the list in a special column I call “where did they go”- till I find them again. By the way, my list does get larger every year! I feel blessed!
You’re completely normal and not weird at all! I always send cards to family (permanent fixtures on my list), but I take people off if I haven’t talked to them in more than a year. I move around a lot, so I have a lot of friends from different parts of the country. I make it a point to speak with them as frequently as I can, but sometimes friendships fall away naturally. I’m not as meticulous as a check box beside an address, but if I can’t remember the last conversation I had with a person (be it through email, letter, phone call, text or other social media), then it’s probably time to let them go. I try to keep my list to around 50 in order to be manageable. I think I’ll always feel a little guilty when someone falls off the list though!
I’m with Carol. I usually send around 100 cards; mostly family. I only remove people from my list if I lose an address for them or if they’ve passed on. Some of my cards are handmade (my crafty friends); most are just a decorated photo letter sharing my family’s updates for the previous year. I only send cards to people I feel would appreciate knowing what I’ve been up to the previous year; knowing full well that some of them don’t usually reciprocate. I don’t care if they reciprocate or not; as long as I just know they appreciate being updated about me. (I moved many states away from most of my family a long time ago, so communication from me is usually welcomed by my family. It also helps dispel rumors that might be circulating about me back there!!!! LOL)
I send out about 80 cards a year but 40 of those are family (I’m the baby of 7). Out of that 80, I only send out about 20 home made. These go to people who truly appreciate them and love receiving them throughout the year. We get about 25 cards a year, in return. I don’t really take people off the list, it is manageable and while the folks on there that don’t send us anything, (which is fine)…it is our way to say, “Haven’t spoken to you in a while but we do think about you and hope you and yours are well.” Merry Christmas to you and your family and may your New Year be a fabulous one! I enjoy your videos and am in awe of your amazing gift…so happy you share it with us! (Hug!)
I typically keep sending unless the card comes back as address unknown. I think people are sending cards less and less as a general rule due to expense and sadly, with the online explosion and ease of sending a greeting out with a single click, but I’ll keep sending as long as I can afford to do so. Whether it’s a handmade card or a store bought card, there’s some magical about being able to pick something and read it while holding it on your hand, versus scrolling on a screen.
Donna
I send cards to family no matter what. I delete people off my list when the card comes back undeliverable. If you haven’t kept in touch enough to tell me you’ve moved… yeah, we aren’t really friends anymore.