OK Ya'll next year before 12/10/09 we will be ready to support and comfort our Veterans. I have posted a comment for Jon (Mississippi Garden Blog) so that he knows about the address changes from the actual medical center to the Red Cross. Sadly enough, they need each card to be opened and inspected first. No gifts, pictures, return addresses, or email addresses. Susie

I've whittled my list down over the years, to a smaller number for several reasons. I don't like to send cards without a personal note of some sort inside and because of my business, this is one of my busiest times of the year and there are time constraints. I don't like to put people into the position of sending cards as an obligation. It should be a joy. I feel I've likely done them a kindness by dropping them from my list. I replace a Christmas card with a note or card some other time of the year. They can respond....or not. I've lost a good many relatives and friends over the years simply through death and the list goes smaller each year. That's the hardest one. The price of postage is getting prohibitory when you can only send two cards for a dollar.....one if it is going over the pond. I do not send out cards to my customers. If they're special to me, I'll make a trip to them and give them a gift.....but I dislike getting impersonal or imprinted cards made out by somebody's secretary. It just wastes a tree. If they have a good product, a card once a year doesn't matter or make them anymore likely to get my business. That given, my list is very personal and easy to handle now. I will choose (or make) a card I think is special. I don't look at the expense, but the thought presented. I'll be more likely to pick out cards for that reason so don't look for bargains. If they're inexpensive....fine. If they're pricey.........again fine. That means cards sent to make money for charities are considered. I'd rather the profit go toward a cause I support than a stockholder.

I don't always send them, but I always intend to! I have been pretty good, a couple years in a row now... Like Bill, I think it's an extra special treat to those who get one from me, the odds are dodgy!! It sure is a feeling of accomplishment, getting those cards in the mailbox. I also write a short personal message, since I don't have kids or photos or newsletters to share. It gets a little tedious to write in each one, but I make sure I have eggnog and carols playing and make it festive. This year I wrote half while watching "Holiday Inn." I like reading the newsletters, even when they are braggy! Usually they are from relatives I don't keep in touch with so it's just a nice record of their year. I don't mind cards that are just signed (always the photo ones) but I prefer the ones with a message! I also don't compare give-to-recieve. I am sure I've fallen off a list or two for the years I missed, but I send cards to people I want to extend a greeting to, not to those whom I owe anything!

I want to say thank you too. I have never in my life seen so much mail in my little po box. What a joy to open it and see all the familiar names of my friends smiling back at me. I am going to buy some ribbon tomorrow and hand them on my back door. I will take a picture when I get done. I still have cards going out tomorrow. I also ran out of stamps and it snowed here in South Carolina on Friday. So the whole town shut down! Well, not really, but it was a mess and I did not have the right car to be driving in the ice and snow. Hugs to ALL of you. Trish