Breaking Tradition

When I was just a small lad I knew the holidays were here, not when the department stores put up their decorations or when I brought home the construction paper ornaments made in art class (which my mother still has), or even when Charlie Brown went and picked out that funky assed tree, but when my grandfather sat down to do our family's Christmas cards. That was my real cue that the holiday season had arrived.


Daddy loved Christmas. He loved most holidays, but he really went all out for Jesus' birthday. He would go out and get the biggest tree he could find and decorate it until it was the brightest, most tacky thing on the block. Our holiday cards were quite different. They were always neatly and very beautifully addressed. Whether or not we received a reply was irrelavent.



I inherited his love of Christmas and, like him, I love sending holiday greetings. I also love receiving them. Even now, I rush to the mailbox every day to see who has the holiday spirit. Once I was old enough to send out my own cards, which was like 12, I made sure to remember all those I held dear. I've never sent out any less than 30 cards. Last year I sent out 65. I have never received as many as I've sent, but that's never mattered. Anytime I can receive something in the mail that isn't requesting payment, I am enthralled and folks are usually equally glad to get my glad tidings.


This year, those bitches at the post office have ruined for everyone. It seems like every year the damn stamp goes up two cents. I have finally reached the point where I just can't take it anymore. For the first time in my life I will be sending emailed greetings to everyone on my contact list. Up until this year, even my friends that I email on the regular received cards via snail mail because I believe they, like I, love to receive something that's not a bill. Some of them will be upset. Others will be relieved because they won't feel obligated to buy a stamp and send one back. Cheap bastards!


It is truly the end of an era for me and a turning point in my life that marks my total transition to technology. There are still some folks to whom I must send a holiday greeting by mail. Most of them are over the age of 65, but anyone who can switch on a computer navigate through cyberspace can look forward to glad e-tidings from me.


I'm doing a test run with Thanksgiving just to see if I get the same joy, but so far I'm not feeling it. Though I've received some lovely replies, I'm not able to stand at the mailbox, rip open an envelope (shake the card to see if there's any money) and find the perfect spot on the mantel or in the carld holder for display. I'm really gonna miss that. It also feels like I'm losing my grandfather all over again, but I will overdecorate a tree. It wouldn't be Christmas without it.