Who reads them? I admit I skim. However, I realize they are a beautiful way to keep family history recorded and easily referenced.
Except for my resume, I rarely keep a record of significant events. Oh I might note them in my day book, but then I toss it into a large keepsake box for the year. I quit making scrape books long ago when I realized no one would ever open them.
But I wish I had a page for each year’s happenings. That way I could find how many years it was since my granddaughter visited me in Ann Arbor. We think it was when she was still in grade school. She’s in her first year of college now. My grandson came up to my shoulder then. At his high school graduation he was a head taller than me.
And when did my husband, Paul and I visit the Litvaks and Sawyers in California, the Weinsteins or Schnee family in New York and Boston or for that matter Paul’s son and wife in Arizona? I know it has been seven years since I saw my oldest son, who also lives in Arizona, but we’ve seen Paul’s granddaughters in the last three years, I think.
You can see I might be among the many to start writing and sending out personal histories of the year. I did enclose postcards in my Christmas greetings for all the books I have self-published on Amazon. It didn’t require too much courage to push my books because the first Christmas cards came from Ann Arbor’s happy jewelry companies and antique shops in Chelsea, Tecumseh, etc.
Kudos to those of you who are able to quickly answer which year each relative or friend accomplished their dreams. Write on!
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time.
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
Happy New Year and Happy IWSG, Rohn. First off, your novel sounds wonderful. Something I could sink my teeth into. I’m #63 on the above list. I keep a journal for the very reasons you mention above. As for your scrapbook, think of how much fun it will be for your great-grandchild to look at it one day. I would love to have a journal or scrapbook of my distance relative. It might explain who I am and how I got here. Or not. Anyway, it’s very nice to meet you. Hope all your dreams come true in 2015.
Could I send you a copy?
Huh, I never thought about it from the perspective of having a personal log of big life events. I like that idea.
I’m a skimmer too on some of the letters. This past Christmas one went directly into the trash bin when I read about peace and love from a person who I know for a fact acted in greedy, nasty ways toward her own flesh and blood just months earlier.
Greedy gets me, too.
I don’t receive many Christmas letters and the ones I get are from close friends or family, so I read them. They are a nice idea. Happy New Year.
sometimes they are my husband’s friends.
Me and my family put all the old postcards in a box. Fortunately for me most of my relatives live in the same town as me. We are constantly driving each other crazy. Thank you so much for visiting my blog and for commenting.
I don’t at all mean to offend; but I have one cousin with all her children still living with her grandchildren in the little town of Marengo. I asked her how she did it. She told me I made a mistake by inspiring my children to go away to college.
I miss my boys, but I know they lead more interesting lives than if they lived in Jackson, Michigan. I call St. Charles, Illinois my hometown and I do have nieces and nephews to visit when I go back for reunions and unfortunately funerals. I’m 74 so they are adding up.
I think I only received two Christmas letters among the cards this year. It was nice to read them – they were short and informative. Happy 2015!
I think I will start sending them next year (maybe along with a brochure of my published novels). This year I sent out postcards with the Christmas cards. Cost me a pretty penny let me tell you. Amazon recorded no sales in December.
The art of handwritten notes/cards/letters seems to be dying… What a shame.
I can remember when we had pen-pals… that was a long, long time ago… another era…
Nice to meet you via IWSG.
January IWSG co-hostess.
Nice to meet you and happy IWSG post day. 🙂 I normally only get one Christmas letter a year, and it’s one I cherish. It’s from my aunt in Chicago. I love getting it and reading what my two younger cousins are doing.
Here’s to hoping 2015 is good to you!!
My family might appreciate news, too.
I used to write a Christmas letter every year and tuck it into the cards I sent out. I eventually stopped because of the time involved, and because I fell in love with Jacquie Lawson’s animated e-cards and began sending them to family and friends instead. I generally receive two or three Christmas newsletters each year; the writing ability of their authors varies. I was an English Major in college. Unfortunately, that can be something of a curse at times, especially when I find myself editing the Christmas newsletters in my mind as I read them. ::sigh::
I bet that is hard to stay with the content. Mine might be worse, because I’m dyslectic. But you know Thomas Jefferson said it was a very poor mind that couldn’t find more than one way to spell a word.
I plan to send out Christmas letters next year. I sent out postcards of all my published works this year, adding to the cost of the mailing. No sales in December, according to Amazon. Next year I hope to add a less weighty brochure of my six novels.
We got two Christmas newsletters this year and I enjoyed both, although one more than the other. Never have done one myself, though. Maybe some day.
Actually, after reading your post, I reread two of mine. One has a lead singer on the Disney cruises and another family sent news and pictures of meeting President Biden and Kim Novak! Mine won’t be that glamorous next year–as far as I foresee.
Hi Rhon! Your IWSG post resonated with me. I struggle very year over whether or not I’ll write one. Our lives are so busy, so I’m happy to get news from my far-flung friends and extended family, even if it’s a mass letter. It’s amazing how the years all tumble together. You think you’ll never forget, and then you do! Happy writing in 2015!
I understand the struggle Just thinking about it gives me a headache. Not all my family’s news is happy.
I’m probably in the minority,but I love the letters that come during the holidays. Many family members & friends say they enjoy getting ours. I enjoy reading what’s been happening in the lives of others that we only make contact at Christmas. Better than just a signature only. Wishing you a great 2015.
I think you are right.
Thanks, Diane. I’m going to try them next year and hereafter…or at least til then.
If someone takes the time to put a card in the mail to me, I take the time to read it. On the other hand, I rarely read thoroughly ANYTHING I get through email.
Thanks for finding me in blogland. It’s nice to connect. Smiles.