I admit it, this has me baffled. There are things I just don’t understand about the giving and recieving of Christmas Cards, and now that I am a big girl of 26, I’d appreciate it if somebody would clue me in. For example:
Why does the mother of my former friend (I say former because I haven’t had any meaningful conversation with this person in nearly two years) continue to send me a card every year? In fact, why did she start? We only met once. Do I have to send a thank-you note for the card? A change of address form if I move? What are my obligations here?
How is it, that in every card I get from a family group, every family member has the same handwriting? I have been trying for five years to get mine & MisterTot’s writing to look exactly the same, but so far no sucess. And this year, we’re adding TinyTot to the mix! How can I get our writing to look so uniform?
Apparently the J o’ P missed the part in our wedding vows where the bride vows to keep up all Christmas correspondence with the in-laws. That being the case, do I still have to do it? When did this charming tradition start?
When did I become Mrs. Johnny Long? Do I have to have my ID, credit cards and checks changed over to reflect that change? When I introduce myself to people, should I say “Hi, I’m Mrs. Long, but you can call me Johnny?”
Please help! I need to get my cards out by tomorrow!
Okay, here goes:
[list]
[li]Why does the mother of my former friend (I say former because I haven’t had any meaningful conversation with this person in nearly two years) continue to send me a card every year? In fact, why did she start? We only met once. Do I have to send a thank-you note for the card? A change of address form if I move? What are my obligations here?[/li]
Your obligations are zero. Consider it a freebie. Unless you want to know how your friend is doing. Then you can send her a card asking the pertinent questions. Other than that, recycle that puppy!
[li]How is it, that in every card I get from a family group, every family member has the same handwriting? I have been trying for five years to get mine & MisterTot’s writing to look exactly the same, but so far no sucess. And this year, we’re adding TinyTot to the mix! How can I get our writing to look so uniform?[/li]
There should be a training course available on-line. I think Sally Struthers offers one too!
[li]Apparently the J o’ P missed the part in our wedding vows where the bride vows to keep up all Christmas correspondence with the in-laws. That being the case, do I still have to do it? When did this charming tradition start?[/li]
No, the problem is that you have not trained Mister Tot very well. Beginning with the first Christmas, you should have sat him down with some cards and a pen and made him do them. Since he shows no interest, I say no cards for the in-laws until he does them. When mom-in-law asks/hints/whatever, just act shocked and say, “Johny was supposed to do those. You mean you haven’t gotten it?” However, all is not lost. You still have time to train TinyTot. That way, when he gets married, he will know that it is one of his husbandly duties to help write Christmas cards! For now, you could always try some guilt tripping on hubby and see if that works. (However, if he is like most men, he will just tell you if you don’t want to do it, to just not send out Christmas cards!)
[li]When did I become Mrs. Johnny Long? Do I have to have my ID, credit cards and checks changed over to reflect that change? When I introduce myself to people, should I say “Hi, I’m Mrs. Long, but you can call me Johnny?”[/li]
This irks me to no end. If you want to be obnoxious, send them cards back signed “Johnny and Mrs. Johnny”–hopefully they will get the point!
Does that help?
You need to develop a merry tinkling laugh so that when your evil MIL harasses you for the lack of cardage on her side of the family, you can be really irritating.
I tend to look blankly at her and say Did he forget Again? Then I say smugly all my relatives got cards.
It’s been 10 years though and she still seems to think that I should do it. I finally got through to his family that I don’t use his surname. So now they send cards to G-- M------ and A—. I think that’s rude ;).
Goody! I’ll send it to you! It will be thrifty and save trees. Do you know if there is any way I can re-use the stamp? It has a festive holiday design on it, I’d hate for that to go to waste.
Does that come with a diploma? I could use the credentials in my search for useful employment, now that I’ve retired from plotting and scheming.
But how do I stop the receiving part? Is there a tactful way of telling the newly separated wife of his cousin that I don’t give a flying fuck about her life? Or should I just send that card to you, too?
I was thinking Johnny and She Who Has No Name Of Her Own…or do you think my hand would hurt too much after writing that 100 times. Perhaps I could get a stamp made?
Thanks for the help bethie! I think I’m getting the hang of this acting like a mature adult business!
Also, you know what you do with Christmas cards you don’t want? Provided they are normal card size and the person only writes on the right-hand side or bottom section of the card, just cut on the fold and voila! Instant Christmas postcard. It was free and the postage is less than for a card! I am the Redneck Martha Stewart!
Dammit bethie! I told you I am making a life change here, and I need the support of my friends! It’s so hard to be a good and mature adult. Sniffles…I thought abandoning my plan of sending everyone signed Original Danish Breakfast Meat and switching to cards was a step in the right direction. Now, I can’t even do that right. Waahhhh!
Now, won’t somebody please help me! Serious help only, please!
So what about making my own Christmas e-cards this year, complete with midis and animated GIFs? I am going to scan a big 'ol picture of us Tots at 1200DPI and keep it full size so that they can see us in all our glorious beauty. That’s a good idea, right?
Christmas cards from the friends’ mother etc. eventually, she will stop. People like that (ok, so I’m one) tend to re-adjust their CC lists every several years. So, without getting one in return, it generally takes me a couple of years before you don’t get one. And, in any even, eventually they will stop (Christmas Card lists do not belong in wills)
Re: in laws, well, I’m divorced now, so I suspect that my suggestions wouldn’t be helpful here ( )
Re: making your own - now you’re in really dangerous territory - I started doing that several years ago. It is far more expensive, etc than you can ever imagine. So, unless you have a spare room in your house and lots of discretionary income, I’d suggest staying away from that. OTOH, you have my e-mail address and if you are really interested in it, I can give you some pointers -let me know.
Recycling by clipping is fine - but make sure that you’re not sending the card back to the original sender or their brother.
RE: the “mrs Johnny long” well, I’m in an household now with 3 last names, when I send stuff to folks I do something like “the Tater family” or “Suzie Jones & family” or “Liz & company” or “Savage/Wilson” (or the really tough one “Zurvalec/Diephouse”). and suspect that if you signed it that way, folks might take that hint.
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