I do send out cards for all the holidays to just my close family. I also send get well and sympathy cards to both family and friends. Everyone thanked me with either a phone call or email for the Halloween cards. I love it when I get cards. I use to be a great letter writer, or so I was told. Now I just call or send an email.

I've always had a list of older people in my life to whom I send written letters, cards. And usually typing the letters, using a larger easy to read font. All the holidays including Halloween - what saddens me is my list is getting shorter with those we have lost.

Even if they do email, there is still the element of surprise of getting something tangible in the mail, knowing someone has taken the time to buy, write, address a card. Lots of times I slip in a book of stamps or small grocery gift card.

I do, still. For myself it's great getting a piece of snail mail that isn't advertising or a bill! Right now a close member of my family has had a stroke and is in hospital in another province. Good news is that this hospital has an email address where one can send messages of inspiration, etc. to patients. They have several volunteers who print/deliver the messages to the patient's room (after it has been monitored by staff who weeds out the nonconforming emails). This way I have been able to send a cheery message every day. So there are occasions when email messages are very appropriate and well-received.

marilyn sue, sending cards, writing letters and notes, etc, are gracious practices that I think have faded or are fading from common use. I don't think this is a new phenomenon either. I'm a baby boomer with big city (sub)urban roots - my parents didn't frequently send mail items like this, we don't at all and my adult kids don't either.

Phone calls, emails or messages, seem to be adequate and acceptable in today's world

I love to send cards with a note inside and do so for birthdays and major holidays. In fact, I'm in the midst of writing Thanksgiving cards now. Some of those on my list are older and don't use email, but some are not. Sending postcards and cards has become a practice that several of my friends and I have adopted as another way to keep in touch. Some of us hate Facebook and others keep their Facebook limited to family. We do get together if we are in close geographical proximity, but rarely telephone just to talk as our time zones and work/life schedules generally make that difficult.

Yes, I send cards every week to family, friends and my church family. I make my own cards and they are sent for birthdays, holidays, get well and sympathy occasions and to those who are widowed or need encouragement. Card making is a great creative outlet for me. I am positive that most people love getting snail mail that isn't a bill or advertising fodder.

Not very often

I do send thank you notes and sympathy cards, and the two little girls who live next door love getting mail!

I do send cards. I believe it's a lost art. I send them almost weekly. It's special to receive something handwritten in the mail imo. My Grandma tells me that she looks everyday to see if I have written her, we write to each other a lot. I hate that many people don't appreciate the effort of a thoughtful handwritten note.

My mother once had some bad news and was dreading telling my Grandmother, to the point she was almost sick. She came to me and said, "What am I going to do?!?" I said, "I wrote her and told her already." My mom called, and my Grandmother had already had time to process the information and was composed in her reponse. Writing took the edge off and I believe my Grandmother would have blown up had she not had the opportunity to digest the information alone.

I receive frequent notes from special people that I no longer connect with on a regular basis. I often procrastinate returning the gesture as quickly as I should. I do admire those who always remember special days or times and I "intend" to do the same. Successfully, some of the time.

I don't often send cards aside from birthday cards to our out of town kids and grandkids. When I get a card in the mail, I feel one thing ... guilt because I know I'm not going to reciprocate.

I send cards, write letters to a few folks, and communicate mostly via email. Often send Jacquie Lawson ecards and e-notes because they're so charming.

Yes. I love snail mail. I send holiday cards and notes and I clip things that seem special and send them to people. Old fashioned but always well received. I have personalized stationery.

I still send a lot of cards. I'm not very good at putting my thoughts on paper so I try to find a card with words i would like to say. Letters, no!

No. Family members have a daily check in, with a private group, on Facebook.

In the past, I have sent Christmas cards, but I'm thinking of quitting, this year.

I love to send & receive cards. I will do this till the day I die or can't remember when to send them.

Rarely. I'm big on email with my aunts and dad and facebook others. I text with my kids.

I am not much of a letter writer. I have a very hard time saying what I am feeling. As most of you probably realize, I don't often post or comment, and that is the reason why. That doesn't mean that I don't think of you all, and keep you in my prayers. However, I do try to send birthday (though those tend to sneak up on me!), sometimes anniversary cards, get well, and sympathy cards. And Christmas cards every year. I do enjoy making cards, though don't get many made, except at Christmas.

There was a time thst i loved cards and saved them all. Every Christmas i would pull out all the old Christmas cards and string them up. One time i was at a birthday party helping to clean up after. The birthday girl tossed her cards in the trash. I wasn't particularly upset but it definitely changed my views on card-giving, considering the expense.

Yes, family and friends are far away and it is a tradition for birthdays and Christmas, or I send them to my sick or needy friends or relatives, with a check, and often old photos. But I am getting tired of Christmas cards to people who don't keep in touch otherwise,and say "let's talk soon." i have saved way too many cards and letters I have received. No one needs to deal with them when I'm gone and I should toss them.

I talked to someone on the phone a couple years ago and was still grieving for my late husband and could not remember --Did I send you a b-day card?--"It doesn't matter. I throw them away as soon as I get them" I later remembered I did send one, a special one. I wonder if it is worth it. I'd rather talk on the phone to people unless I have a photo or check or gift to send them along with the card or letter.

I used to, but seldom any more. Heck, I don't even read my emails.

andreap: Your library may enjoy receiving your saved cards as sometimes they work with children on making fun things with them.

I like to avoid using the post office whenever possible. Cards were never a big thing with me. I guess I agree with my dad when he said he liked when someone would write something on the cards. I figure the ones that send cards just for the sake of sending cards are doing it for themselves, not the recipients. Getting a printed card that says "Happy Thanksgiving" and nothing more, to me, why bother? If I don't hear from someone for a long time and they're contacting me, I feel they should either have a reason for the contact. If it's to just say hello, great, but why not just say it? A few lines on how they've been is appreciated. Seems like a waste of money, time for both of us, natural resources and landfill/recycling. Some want to count the cards they get. There's the obligation of "I sent a card so I'd better get one" and "I got a card, now I have to send one". To me they're GREETING cards, not obligation cards. Seems the whole intention of them has changed.

I used to send cards during the holidays sometime when I wanted to keep in contact with distant relatives and friends with whom I have little contact. But unlike many, the older I get, the less I appreciate the card business. I know a lot of people like getting (and/or sending) cards. Gives me no thrill. I do intend to send one card this Christmas and that's to one of my surgeons and his staff who went so out of their way so many times to be helpful and because they cared. I want to let them know things are going well and their efforts and talents were appreciated.