Today I heard back from two people who had received my letter and had time to read it. I mention the time involved, because it’s four pages long. Yes! That’s a long letter, but I always have so much to say, and now six people in the family to mention, plus the animals. It’s hard to keep it short.
To my absolute delight, we are now on the mailing list of a friend who writes six page letters. I always WISHED for someone in my life who wrote very long letters for me to sit back and read, and this has satisfied my cravings. I’m glad that I can fulfill the cravings of a few people in my sphere with my own letters.
Anyhoo, please take a look at the page below, and please read any of the letters that capture your fancy.
Conscious Engagement 
How awesome to have all but one of your past letters! What a treasure! And what a full year you’ve had! Happy holidays and Happy New Year to you and yours! (I’m guessing your blog title is just a typo? (2005?) :o)
Lenore! Thank you for spotting the error, ha ha! Yes, it was a typo and I fixed it. I agree with you: what a treasure to have found all of them except for 1998. I only searched for them all a couple years ago, too, because for some reason I never thought to keep them all intentionally. But luckily I had thumb drives and external hard drives squirreled away all over the place and managed to cobble together a pretty full history.
Because of time I settled on the latest and the first. It was good to see our foursome picture, and your first letter reminded me of your Wyeth liking – and making me regret remembering because I could have shown you the Helga Pictures book. Thanks a lot
The photo was a little different from the one I used in my blog. Since you had regrets about the last time you saw a photo of us together, I found another in which you are looking slightly to the side and not squinting as much in the sun. The sun was so bright that day and there was nothing for it but to squint.
I didn’t realize you had a book of Helga pictures and I certainly would have loved to see them. Ah well. Hold on to the book for next time. 🙂
A good choice of photo. Here’s to next time XX
Once upon a time we used to write letters regularly. There was always so much to express and it was satisfying to read letters from others. We wish you and your family a good and satisfying new year. Regards, Lakshmi
Lakshmi, I have the same recollection. I am nostalgic for the days when I sent and received many letters throughout the year with friends and family. After that, we took shortcuts and sent greeting cards with notes enclosed, but even those come rarely now. There was a time when Christmas mail included a collection of letters, as you describe, and yes, so satisfying to read all about a family we care about.
Thank you for the New Year’s wishes, and we wish the same for yours. Thank you for your comments and memories. ❤
I have been meaning to return to this blog to say I AM BLOWN AWAY by your annual holiday cards. And that you have them stashed and organized here. Wow. Just wow, my friend. Merry Christmas.
Dede, your enthusiasm makes me laugh! Yes, I am an incorrigible writer and have been all my life. Christmas letters are a great way for me to channel that drive to put things in writing. I have to assume not everyone reads these (I typically send out around 100 paper letters in the mail to actual mailboxes.), but I hope that the recipients feel remembered each year. Then, there are the people that GUSH how much they enjoy the letters, and that is my fuel to do it again next year. 🙂
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family. We wish you the best and I hope to see you again in 2026.