CHRISTMAS LETTERS

For the first time in a number of years I managed to get our annual letter out before Christmas.  I usually end up writing a Groundhog Day letter and even then it's sometimes late so you can understand why I've been patting myself on the back.   I was feeling pretty pleased with myself being all organized and everything until I was at my daughter in law's place the day she received a card and letter from her friend, opened it, read the first paragraph, threw it on the table and announced"her letters are always too long, I don't have time to read them". (She's a busy mom.)
"Uh, oh" I thought, ""my letters tend to be on the long side."
I voiced as much to her and being the nice person she is, she quickly justified the length of my letters saying that I had a lot of people to write about.
This got me to wondering about how many people actually read the letters that often accompany a Christmas card from friends they don't see very much.  Personally I read every letter that comes in the mail.  I may not read them the same day they arrive if I am really busy but I do take the time at some point over the holidays to read them.  I like hearing what is going on in the lives of my friends and I don't care that they often paint a picture of a more perfect family than they actually are (apparently some people do... take offense that is) because at the time of writing the author is seeing the very best part of their family and that's a good thing.  It doesn't bother me in the least either that it is a generic letter being sent out to many.  I know that at least as the sender was addressing the envelope, they thought about me because I know I think of them as I stuff the envelope and write their name across it.
So don't worry if you have cast my letter aside because it was too long, there's no test at the end and I won't ask you about it, you're off the hook, rest easy, I usually get someone else to write mine anyway.