Elise Skidmore

I Love Christmas Cards

My mother used to pin Christmas cards
to red ribbons she hung on the walls.
I never counted them but 
through my child's eyes 
there seemed to be hundreds.
I remember watching my mother 
writing out cards at the kitchen table
and folding the envelopes in, 
rather than licking them to seal because 
it was cheaper to mail them that way.

When I was a teenager 
I started making out my own cards,
handing them to some
and mailing the others to family
and friends who were miles away.
My Christmas spirit soared
when a card came to the house
addressed to only me.

Once I got married
I made it a point 
to make out my cards
over Thanksgiving weekend, 
so I could have them in the mail
by December first.
I wanted anyone who might
be thinking of cutting their list
not to scratch us out,
because all those beautiful cards
with their Santas and Nativity scenes
were a part of my holiday decorations.
Over time, I found many creative ways
of displaying them,
from my mother's old-fashioned ribbons
to a cardboard Santa with reindeer
attached by red yarn that held the cards.

In this modern day world,
cards have gone out of style,
and not just Christmas cards.
I suppose that's partly due to
how expensive cards and stamps are.
The fact that the world's gone digital
has had its impact too.
It's a lot easier and cost effective
to shout your holiday messages
across social media
or send digital cards.
Not only saves time and money,
but writer's cramp too.

There are still diehards like me out there,
who write out cards by hand,
curse at how bad their handwriting is,
and wait on lines at the post office
to get those holiday stamps. 
Our numbers are dwindling
if the cards I've received this year
are any indication,
but I still find joy in the process,
and even more when seeing a card
from a friend I haven't heard from in ages.
Sometimes there's a handwritten note
or a newsy letter of the happenings 
since last year's card arrived. 
I hope they find as much joy 
when my card lands in their mailbox.

If your mailbox isn't overflowing,
but your email inbox is,
that's okay too. 
It's the thought that counts,
not the mode of delivery.
There's no better Christmas gift
than time spent with thoughts of a friend.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, spent with those you love. Whether you’re able to be in the same room or face-to-face via your computer or phones, take joy in those precious moments. I hope Santa is good to you all and to quote Tiny Tim, God Bless Us, Everyone!

Elise Skidmore ©2021