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Christmas cards




I sat down to reluctantly address Christmas cards. While our list has slowly dwindled through the years it's still a sizeable number, especially when it's viewed as a task approached reluctantly. Know what I mean? Some Christmas 'tasks' are a lot less taskier - like decorating or shopping or eating or opening presents. I mean, there's a whole different level of enthusiasm associated with 'tasks' that aren't viewed as tasks - I can't ever remember a time when I sat down to reluctantly open a present or eat a Christmas cookie!

 Anyway, I approached the Christmas card addressing with a less-than-positive, more bah-humbugish attitude. I poured a cup of coffee, grabbed the markers (I had to have a green, a red and a black one), the list and of course the envelopes (which John had already stuffed with the card). I turned on some Christmas music, but not too loud or it would distract me (and it really doesn't take much to distract me. Squirrel!), and I sat in my favorite spot on the couch. Wally, of course, jumped up next to me ready to nap the next hour or so by my side. Ready to begin, I sighed, and grabbed the first envelope and chose my color marker...

 A funny thing happened. With that envelope, and each on after, I imagined each person or persons as I wrote their name. I had pleasant thoughts of thing we'd done in the past or conversations we've had or ones I wanted to have. For the few minutes I was addressing, I was (in my thoughts) with that friend or family member. My frown turning upside down, I even laughed a couple times. Each subsequent envelope took a little longer as I stayed in the remembrance or thoughts and the 'task' became an activity of joy. 

I thought of the summers on Drummond Island, when the parents had as much (or more!) fun as the kids.


I thought of how we packed the back of your Outback, with school supplies for students in need and how we joked that it was a good thing they weren't going in my Mini.

I thought of the Wolverine hanging in effigy at the first MSU tailgate I had attended in a gazillion years.
 

And I remembered the family wedding an the picture that captures each of us, our personalities, perfectly.

I thought of a class reunion, the first I'd ever attended, and the friends that remain so dear that I don't want to lose touch ever again.
I was thinking of a time when a friend and I donned hideously obnoxious sunglasses much to the horror of our toddler sons and husbands. 

And after nearly two hours, so lost in the memories, those included here and hundreds of others, that I couldn't understand why the heck there was Christmas music playing and why Wally was so restless making whining noises and sighing. The envelopes were addressed and my time spent with each of you was just the tonic to make that time enjoyable and oh so worthwhile.

Merry Christmas to all - even those that don't get a card from the Piggins clan (I'm fairly certain, I had wonderful reminiscences about you too!

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