I'm used to getting cards and letters late, but this year my sisters and relatives in Croatia and Bosnia will be using Skype, free cam and especially voice chats, not perfect, but what is? Especially one for free. Gotten more annuals cleaned, mostly sweet autumn clematis, MG's, cannas, gingers and NBJasmine, it's been in 70-ies, just right to keep windows open!! Weather see-saws all over the world! Hope Santa doesn't get snowed in, ha. Making Shrimp and leftover Turkey Gumbo!! No okra or smoked ham, so it's not the traditional recipe, might serve it with brown rice or mashed potatoes. I'll share the recipe-s eventually, like it or not, lol GB-Bea

That reminds me of what my FIL did. He was very sick from cancer and knew he wasn't going to last too much longer. He sent a e-mail to my husband that was set up to be sent at a later date, after his death, by about 7 months. He asked that we keep in touch with his wife, stepmother. My husbands mother died when he was about 21 and he remarried 5 years later to this women, she had two grown children also. The stepmother was really hard to get along with. Her son put up with her, and was barely on speaking terms with her daughter. Treated my husband very poorly for years, but we tolerated her because Dad loved her. I think she always meant well somewhere deep down inside, but was still rude, arrogant, put downs, was hard to take, but we live 800 miles away so not too much contact...We kept in touch for a few years after dads e-mail but she was still worse than ever and she died 5 years later, the last year we hardly spoke at all....still feel guilty we didn't keep in contact so much. I really think she didn't understand what she did to people, she was a miserable soul, bless her.

Ours has changed hours :o) so by the time I get out of water aerobics, get dressed, all their doings is over and done with. boooooo! Been on a few cruises with the senior centers. When their previous director left, they have not found one that is nearly as good as that one. They DID have line dancing classes one day, and end of week had live music and line dancing. T'was fun! Lots of card games, Mexican dominoes, etc. One year, 4 couples married, who met at the center. All had lost their spouses.

Personally, I prefer cash. But some feel that's "impersonal". Gift cards are the modern version of the gift certificate or the trendy "check" (or "cheque" to my Canuck-lehead friends) being given as a gift. My gift shopping used to always include a stop at the liquor store for at least one person on the list. I knew that wasn't going to go to waste. A friend used to always give his grandmother a small ham for Christmas because she'd never buy it for herself. Some would be appalled, nay, even insulted if someone gave them grocery stoe food! It needs to be in little jars, in a box, flavors nobody likes, won't eat, and will be given away or thrown away! LOL I'm really bothered when someone says cash is a bad gift, impersonal or whatever. Doesn't anyone get tired of getting trinkets that someone else thinks is cute and you find abhorrent? But somehow that's a better gift than giving someone cash so they can put it toward their electric bill on a month they're a little short, or go to a movie, or put gas in the car to get to work, or put toward the heat bill or into a (heaven forbid) savings account or get the car repaired house reroofed or whatever else. What troubles me is there used to be a saying that it's the thought that counts. I buy someone a gift, it's thoughtful, right? They hate it so they return it or leave it on a shelf or whatever. But that's more thoughtful or personal than cash? I don't think so. If someone is considerate enough to give me cash and trust that I'll make a good decision on what to do with it, that, to me, is thoughtful. Our western society is so hung up on materialism. It's the gift not the thought. We have to spend more on that wedding gift than the Jones' spent or we'll look bad. Doesn't matter what the gift is. I could go on and on but won't. Consider that your Christmas present! :D This time of year often brings out the best, but also the worst in people. Lots of generosity at times, but also greed, selfishness, self-centered thoughts and after all, Christmas is about giving and receiving gifts right? There was a religious event that some people used to get into! :D I'll give you an example of why I don't like gift cards in place of cash. I had my oil changed last summer for about $17. I used a coupon and had it done. Hard for me to do that stuff anymore. :( I got an award from work - a $25 gift card of my choice. I don't shop at Macy's. I don't go on cruises. (I would have appreciated a gift card for the cruise though...) I don't have Staples in the state, much less nearby. There were 2 things I could see myself using. An oil change place or Amazon. I was going to go with Amazon but decided I'd need an oil change before leaving town for a trip so that could be OK. It'd pay for most of the oil change right? Not after it being a $65 oil change! LOL I got another card choice, same thing. I took a restaurant card but now wish I'd gone Amazon. Not sure when I'll get to the restaurant, but not totally sure what I want from Amazon either. Had a voicemail that I have another gift card coming from work. (I must really have them fooled, eh?) If they had options for Home Depot, Lowe's, Menards, gasoline stations, or a prepaid credit card would be preferred. Keep in mind that the designation is important. They bank on people losing them or not using them. Extra profit, not unlike the post office selling stamps that don't get used. That's pure profit. And companies often get a discount so it appears to be more. But it could be worse. I remember when giving a turkey was often a Christmas bonus. Not everyone can use a 15# turkey. Some, a 15# isn't enough anyway. LOL How many people can't use cash?