| Writing Holiday Letters | |||||
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Do you ever write letters—the old-fashioned kind on paper, sealed in envelopes, and sent by “snail mail”? Letter writing seems to be a lost art, and while I’m a strong supporter of technology, I confess that I still mail those often-maligned holiday letters to about seventy-five relatives and friends each December. Christmas or holiday letters have had a bad name for some time: too impersonal for some, parodied by many, but most of all, criticized as “often a litany of bombastic bragging disguised as holiday cheer” or as “anti-holiday letters memorializing deceased pets and reviewing all physical maladies endured throughout the year.” Despite that common public attitude, I still write my letters. In a nod to technology and to saving time, I write on the computer, include a photograph or two, and print copies on my color laser printer. I fold the letters inside charity-sponsored holiday cards, hand-signed, and sometimes include short hand-written notes, and I attach printed address labels and sometimes computer-printed postage to the envelopes. Each year I consider dropping this routine, although I have ample time now. In my teaching years, I rushed to get my cards and letters out between the end-of-semester rush at school and Christmas day, but I did it. Why did I do it then, and why do I continue? I realize that haters of Christmas letters may toss them into the waste basket unread, sometimes deservedly so if they fit the descriptions in paragraph two above. Still, I believe in the virtues of old-fashioned communication by letter. Ideally, I’d carry on personal correspondence with many people. However, not only would that be time-consuming, but experience tells me that I’d receive few replies. I’m not a fan of pre-printed cards lacking even personal signatures, but even those tell me that the sender is still alive. The return addresses help me keep my address book up to date. And I really am interested in the lives of people whose paths have crossed mine through the years. Earlier this year, an old college roommate from Iowa came to Chicago and took me out to dinner. I hadn’t seen her more than once, if at all, in the fifty-three years since graduation, but thanks to holiday letters and photos exchanged through the years, we still knew each other and enjoyed talking about the very different paths our lives have taken. I recently learned that another college roommate died this year. I am glad that we kept in touch through our yearly letters so that I could remember her and her many achievements. After my mother died this year, several friends told me that they remembered her best for her newsy Christmas cards and letters. She kept up her tradition into her nineties, when her hand-written addresses became almost unreadable and her ever-changing address list consisted of small scraps of paper, but those letters were part of her life. I helped her a few times, but writing, addressing, and sending the letters were very important to her. I think they were her way of staying connected with the world as long as possible. Historians have often depended on the archived letters of writers, government officials, and other celebrities to study their lives and their careers. What now? The text messages of Paris Hilton? The e-mails of George W. Bush? Somehow, I doubt it. Celebrities can always produce and sell ghost-written memoirs, but I’ve always appreciated revealing letters of historical interest. What about us non-celebrities? The world at large probably won’t care, but some of our friends and family members will. Besides, writing a holiday letter offers a good chance to review the past year and plan ahead. You can even preserve many years of letters on line, or gather them for a future book about your life. To avoid frustration or embarrassment, just remember these simple principles, adapted from Ted Pack’s web site (see second link below): 1. Keep it short and interesting. 2. Focus on high points from the year; don’t try to cover everything. 3. Keep it light and cheerful. 4. Keep it readable; don’t use too many different, hard-to-read type fonts, decorative as they may be. 5. Avoid career jargon and unusual acronyms that most people won’t understand, as well as sales pitches for your home business. 6. Don’t complain. Go ahead and brag just a little, but be sure to show a bit of humility. Mine may be a minority opinion, but I urge you to consider keeping in touch by letter at least once a year. Perhaps, as in my mother’s case, those letters will be among your legacies. Besides, writing and sending them will make you feel good, and you may hear from others in return. For me, cards, e-mails, and phone calls are welcome, but holiday letters are among the very special highlights of the season. Happy holiday communicating! How about sharing your letter (or part of it) in your journal here on eGenerations? For some negative views: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16063728/ For some parodies as well as serious suggestions and examples for writing a Christmas letter: |
