"The Christmas Letter"

Back before email and texts (yes there was such a time), it was customary to send Christmas cards through the mail along with a note written inside to catch up with friends and family about the year's events. Some people extended this note to a separate Christmas Letter. You are probably not surprised that I am one of those people. I’ve probably written them for over 30 years. 

These letters are an art form; no look-at-me-and-what-I-did, no bragging about kids, no mention of money or cost of things, because who wants to read about your perfect life?  Humble and humorous is the way to go. 

I used to write about my offspring and their silly adventures. You know, the kind that would make you laugh out loud. But “the kids” have their own lives now. So, not surprisingly, I write about dogs; my dog, my daughter’s dog, my son’s dog, the dog across the street who we walk most days. All are rescues and all are Pitties. 

Some years the annual Christmas Letter just does not get written; too busy, too little inspiration (remember; it’s an art form), too many papers to grade, too much shopping left to do. And sometimes, it’s just too sad. Last year was that year. Doggie died. Family upheavals. My son moved across the country. There was nothing to say; I couldn’t find any humor in any of it. 

But if we can count on anything, it’s that things will change. And they have. I am grateful that this year has proven to be Christmas Letter-worthy.