A Christmas Card for You
/It is Christmas, and, since this is an unusual Christmas for me, I’ve been thinking about tradition, specifically about cards. I sent photo cards out again this year, and I think most have arrived safe and sound. But I’m sharing with you another card tradition that has always meant much to me.
When I was going through my storage unit last month, I packed a sealed box marked “Christmas” and “Glass” in one of the moving boxes, wrapping it in a blanket and placing pillows and skeins of yarn all around. Upon opening it last week, I was delighted. It was my framed Christmas cards, garland, a couple of odd-lot ornaments and some favorite holiday videos. But, ah, the cards.
The majority of the 21 cards were given to me by my ex-husband, Rich, during our 10 years together, and, with the exception of a couple of painful post-divorce years, these cards have always made me smile. They are beautiful—so beautiful that I decided to frame them, and they became part of my Christmas décor. Eventually they decked my mantle in Rochester and my bookshelves in Oregon, which became my Christmas trees of sorts—displaying ornaments, garlands, lights, the cards, memories.
I love looking at them, small works of art. All have a touch of nostalgia and a touch of magic. I think that is what Christmas was--or is--to Rich and to many of us. It, far more than other holidays, is about wishes and goodwill. A benevolent, jolly spirit sweeping through a starry night distributing gifts throughout the world is nothing less than magic. We want to believe; we want to believe in good.
I hope you enjoy these as much as I do. Happy Christmas.
