Who got one of those crazy christmas letters??

[9dreizig]

I was at a friends house yesterday and she got one of those family update letters. I can't believe people still send them.. So who here got one ( or more) and what's the craziest thing someone wrote in one you got?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

What's wrong with them? We got three just this year and I may still send one in e-mail form to a few people.

I think it's a nice way to keep up on the goings-on of people you don't often get to see or spend too much time with actually. Heck, my nephews are 7 and 5 this year and I've never even met them. That's what happens to people - lives are busy/crazy. We need things like this to keep tabs on what's going on with folks, ya know?

[GothingNC]

I get one from my Aunt each year.

[Rick Lee]

They are the ultimate in cheese, one step below a matching sweatsuit in public. I'd rather keep people wondering than inform them in such a manner.

[Danny_Ocean]

I received one from a Dr. client. She dedicated an entire paragraph to her dog's first birthday party...

[911Rob]

I write one every year.
Pics on one side and letter on the back.
My wife puts them in our cards to friends and family.

Maybe after reading your post I'll stop?
not

[cool_chick]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

They are the ultimate in cheese, one step below a matching sweatsuit in public. I'd rather keep people wondering than inform them in such a manner.

Agreed.

[Seahawk]

It is not my thing, but I enjoy getting them. Duality.

From FMJ:

JOKER
I think I was trying to suggest something
about the duality of man,sir.

COLONEL
The what?

JOKER
The duality of man. The Jungian thing, sir.

[cool_chick]

Sample of a letter I'd like to receive. LOL



This year’s Christmas letter comes to you from the road, as we return from Wisconsin as our son John got thrown in jail on Thanksgiving for beating up his wife AGAIN. We had to go bail him out AGAIN. We decided to make this our vacation, however, since we haven't had one in 8 years, so we stayed 2 extra days, in a motel!!!! What a great time we had.

Remember Susie? Cute, adorable Susie? Well, we have good news! Our adorable 15 year old is giving us the best Christmas gift of the year, a grandchild! Just think, a mini-adorable Susie.

Remember our stance on thumbing it to the IRS? Well, we got a letter from them, saying we owe taxes from 2001. I'm taking on the "man" though...boy, am I going to show them!

The door on my car finally rusted through. Jim had to use duct tape to keep it attached. Works like a charm! If there is one purchase you must add to your shopping list, it is duct tape. This is the most useful invention, don't you think?

Grandma, well she had another heart attack in the nursing home we put her into (thank you Medicaid!). This was in July. We've been so busy, so we hope to get a chance to drive the 10 miles to visit her sometime in 2008....

All in all, it's been a fantastic year. Hope you and your family are doing as well as we are.

[widgeon13]

Stupid letters, they always come from people you don't here shlt from the other 364 days of the year. I just send them back and ask to be taken off the mass mailing list. It's a freakin ego trip for these idiots. If they were real friends they would pick up the phone and call once in a while to let you know what's going on in their world but instead you get this crazy epistle that says what they did all year. I'd take a fruitcake instead if I had the option and I hate fruitcake.

[Danny_Ocean]

Brilliant idea! A spoof "anti-Christmas letter" letter. I'm gonna send '
em out next year.

Originally Posted by cool_chick

Sample of a letter I'd like to receive. LOL

This year’s Christmas letter comes to you from the road, as we return from Wisconsin as our son John got thrown in jail on Thanksgiving for beating up his wife AGAIN. We had to go bail him out AGAIN. We decided to make this our vacation, however, since we haven't had one in 8 years, so we stayed 2 extra days, in a motel!!!! What a great time we had.

Remember Susie? Cute, adorable Susie? Well, we have good news! Our adorable 15 year old is giving us the best Christmas gift of the year, a grandchild! Just think, a mini-adorable Susie.

Remember our stance on thumbing it to the IRS? Well, we got a letter from them, saying we owe taxes from 2001. I'm taking on the "man" though...boy, am I going to show them!

The door on my car finally rusted through. Jim had to use duct tape to keep it attached. Works like a charm! If there is one purchase you must add to your shopping list, it is duct tape. This is the most useful invention, don't you think?

Grandma, well she had another heart attack in the nursing home we put her into (thank you Medicaid!). This was in July. We've been so busy, so we hope to get a chance to drive the 10 miles to visit her sometime in 2008....

All in all, it's been a fantastic year. Hope you and your family are doing as well as we are.

[Jeff]

I like getting them. I don't always get to see enough of the people I care about ( some live far away) so it is nice hearing about their lives. I really cherish my family and those I can call true friends.

The idea of a funny sarcastic letter sounds fun and those who know me well would understand completely and get a real kick out of it.

[Hard-Deck]

Remember the Season - Happy Holidays from the Dempsey Family...

Wayne just put one out. See link.

See, some people have hundreds, or sometimes thousands of acquaintances that they'd like to say Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas to and they can't call each one of them.

If you have a handfull of friends, do your thing and call or write a personal note. For some who have hundreds/thousands, it's a good idea IMHO. I also accept these form letters as being personal because the person at least thought to send one to me.

[scottmandue]

Once again showing that you can post the most innocuous idea on PPOT and someone (or several someones) will step up to the plate to piss on it.

You hate getting letters? Or do you just hate Christmas and anything to do with it?

I used to get one or two every year... they seem to getting less popular... certainly never wasted the time and energy to get pissed off about it.

I'll end on an amusing note, used to get one from the mother of a family that lived behind out house that moved away and they had a boy my age that was in my group of friends.
So I'm out having beers with my buddy...
"So did you hear that Steve is gay?"
"Steve? Our Steve? That used to live the house behind us?"
"Yes"
"How did you find out?"
"It was in the Christmas letter.... Steve and his life partner went on a cruise together"

[BRPORSCHE]

Yeah we get them. Only because we live in Texas now and all the family is in Jersey. Hard to keep in touch with all the big stuff (vacations, confirmations) just through phone calls. Kinda nice to recieve a letter.

[cool_chick]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Once again showing that you can post the most innocuous idea on PPOT and someone (or several someones) will step up to the plate to piss on it.

You hate getting letters? Or do you just hate Christmas and anything to do with it?

I used to get one or two every year... they seem to getting less popular... certainly never wasted the time and energy to get pissed off about it.

I'll end on an amusing note, used to get one from the mother of a family that lived behind out house that moved away and they had a boy my age that was in my group of friends.
So I'm out having beers with my buddy...
"So did you hear that Steve is gay?"
"Steve? Our Steve? That used to live the house behind us?"
"Yes"
"How did you find out?"
"It was in the Christmas letter.... Steve and his life partner went on a cruise together"

Scott, neither. Want the truth? They seem like the point is to brag, that they're only written to brag. What if that same family had a bad year? Would they send them out that year as well? Is it really to "catch up?" I'm of the belief that if we haven't talked in that long, if I can't bother to pick up the phone, if you haven't called me in that long either, then chances are you don't really give a crap about my "magma cum laude" status. At least I don't. Pick up that damn phone! If we were really such great friends or family, then I would've already known all that is on that paper.

There was one that I truly enjoyed, however, from Theo Lefteddy in Greece. The man was approaching 80, and wrote about his visit to the Great Wall of China. He states it was wonderful, but would recommend doing it before the age of 70. LOL. Swear. Was soo cute. I enjoyed that one because it wasn't trying to "impress," it was to truly tell us Merry Christmas and to get our asses to the Great Wall .

I still like that letter of mine, that would be fun to receive. I actually wrote that one up myself too (great feat for me, I'm analytical, not creative).

[Tishabet]

I like them... good way to stay up-to-date with my more tertiary contacts (old neighbors, professors, former coworkers, etc). I do agree that some people treat it as a chance to brag, but I would say that those kinds of letters are the exception in my mailbox.
I would definitely rather get the letter than a card with just a signature...

[cool_chick]

Originally Posted by Tishabet

I would definitely rather get the letter than a card with just a signature...

That's why we handwrite notes. Hey, how you doing? Mom and I are doing great. She just had a big birthday. Let's do lunch soon, I'll call you (or if far away, let's talk soon). Then call.

Friend from England, I saw her husband in an article online re: the pub they own. That's what I wrote about in her card.

To me, I'd rather receive a signature only than a formletter.

I see where you're coming from, but I dunno.....



Ok, enough of my soapbox. I"m done. Merry Christmas alll.

[911Rob]

I even posted my Christmas letter on PPOT, for my "Friends" here;

LINK: Post your Christmas Card Greetings.... Pics!

Merry Christmas Friends!

[scottmandue]

And that is why instead of sending a card or letter out at Christmas I carve marble statues of naked Greek goddesses holding a banner proclaiming Merry Christmas! Sure it is a lot of work but anything worth doing is worth doing right gosh diddly darn it!

I must say the postage is a beeyatch though...