We received one this week for the former resident who hasn’t lived here for 4 years.
I opened it hoping a tenner would fall out but no luck.
There was an email address to which I promptly wrote, as I have on previous years
to random card senders, to say, ‘Jane’ died a couple of years ago, we live here now.
Then ! a plethora of emails asking questions, demanding to know why no one had informed her of this, but when we see the family to please offer condolences - what?
I’m not opening another card addressed to A.N. Other, this is the second attempt
at a drawn out conversation/explanation, first one two years ago, a man,became quite shirty, demanded “and why don’t you know?” (by email) extraordinary, laughed, blocked.
Usually people write, ‘Thank you for letting me know’ in response, that is enough?!
I can remember my Mum’s Christmas Card list, the ritual of writing cards, the ticking off the list when a card arrived, perhaps a new name and address added, our sitting room festooned with cards
Then, when married with young children, babies, the same, until we lose touch, through different location, apathy, remarriage whatever.
Now I send and receive only a handful, far flung friends, those who do not use email or unable through lack of broadband for instance. I’m expecting a rider beneath the good wishes to say, ‘I/we will not send cards next year because of the prohibitive cost but I/we will be thinking of you’
I predict in January 2025 packs of Christmas Cards will be reduced to a shilling.