Pick a card, a Christmas card

I sometimes think I am the last person in the world who sends out Christmas cards (also Hanukkah cards).

But since I get cards from friends and relatives, I know that’s not true.

Christmas is the largest “card time” of the year, with about 2 billion being sent. 

That’s a lot of cards, and a lot of postage.

An estimated 61% of greeting cards are sent during the holiday season, with no other holiday being close. Valentine’s Day is in second place with 25%, followed by Mother’s Day, 4%, Easter, 3%, and Father’s Day, 2.5%, followed by “other.”

So while I am not the last person to be sending cards, I am in a small minority — only 15% of Christmas cards are bought by men. Joining me in that minority — Dwight D. Eisenhower, who in 1953 became the first president to send White House Christmas cards.

I enjoy being in the company of American heroes.

In 1962, the post office issued its first Christmas postage stamp. It now has many Christian stamps, plus stamps for Jewish and Islamic holidays, as it should. 

With the sound of one hand clapping, I ask why you send greetings cards? Since I can’t hear you yet, I will examine why I send Christmas cards.

For one thing, it’s not just a card. It contains my annual letter, which brings everyone up to date as to what transpired in the past year.

For me, that changes things. It’s almost like distributing a column.

My “holiday card list” is smaller than in years past. Not being PC with “holiday,” you know me better than that. During this season I might send Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa cards. 

My list is smaller for several reasons.

First, the Grim Reaper has trimmed my list, by selecting friends to “go home.”

Second, as I am no longer employed and no longer a Grade B celebrity, I get fewer cards from businesses, PR people and assorted strangers. The way I was raised, when you get a card, you respond with a card.

Third, I have trimmed the names of some who don’t observe my second stipulation above.

Now I think about this.

Who are the cards for, really?

Me, or them? 

Does sending them a card recognize their humanity — or mine?

Does it recognize their importance to me? If so, why would I cut them just because they don’t reply?

Here’s the thing, though. I don’t cut them all.

I have a small selection of nieces and nephews who just don’t send cards. It’s a generational thing. They don’t send me birthday cards either. (One does. She will be remembered in my will.)

So I keep them on the list.

In case you are wondering — no, wishes on Facebook and Twitter don’t count, according to the head dean at the Stuniversity.

For those of you who will not be getting a card, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!