The dying art of card-writing

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This article was published 23/12/2019 (2427 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

During this holiday season, I struggled with whether to send Christmas cards to family and friends.  

I have been married 26 years and the first 20 (or so) years we had strings and strings of cards across the wall. After receiving the first few cards I would tie a length of curling ribbon from one nail to the other. As more cards arrived I would hang another length of ribbon in a second row (above or below) and by the time Christmas arrives, the third or fourth row of ribbon. I loved to hang all the cards; they added to the home Christmas décor, reminded me that everyone is thinking of us during the holiday season, and my favourite thing — a personal message.

The past few years I have seen a dramatic decrease in cards received. Many people have stopped sending cards. Last year I had only one ribbon of cards on my wall. I wonder if I am one of the few “old school” people left who love writing and love receiving actual paper cards.

Yesterday I received the most wonderful handwritten card from my next-door neighbour. She wrote a hilarious “p.s.” on the back of the envelope (like we did when we were kids!) and she wrote several paragraphs inside the card with personal anecdotes about this recent year as neighbours. That’s the kind of card I am talking about! That’s the kind of card that means more than any gift. Someone took the time to write and remember and tell you all the things they remember about your relationship.

This is the type of card I leave at a funeral.  I will always write personal memories of that person for their loved ones to read. Things they probably know about their loved one, but in that time love to hear and reminisce, and know that their loved one is remembered fondly. I learned this when my own Mom passed away. I loved that people took the time to write us a personal message about her; it meant so much, and I vowed from then on to make sure that I paid it forward and gave people that same feeling.

Please, I beg of you, write that card! Take the time and handwrite a card to someone you love.Write it to your mom, your friend, your neighbour. Tell them you appreciate them, remind them of the good times you’ve had. Remind them of a laugh you’ve shared.

Teach your kids and grandkids to make homemade cards that you will keep forever.

Do not let the art of writing a personal greeting to a loved one die with our generation.

Wendy Hrynkiw is a community correspondent for East Kildonan. Email her at wendyhrynkiw@shaw.ca

Wendy Hrynkiw
East Kildonan community correspondent

Wendy Hrynkiw is a community correspondent for East Kildonan. Email her at wendyhrynkiw@shaw.ca

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