Christmas 2017

Dear Family and Friends, 

This Christmas letter is from me and John.  John and I start talking about this letter before Christmas.  We play with themes and ideas as we drive about Poulsbo, Bainbridge, and Hansville, WA.  This is distilled and hopefully remembered as we prepare for the holidays.  I wait for inspiration.  When it finally hits, I write; John edits.  He is much wiser than me about audiences.  You note that this letter is written in first person but signed by both of us.  We stuck to this formula for the ’17 Christmas letter because John had to go leaf blow the driveway.

One of my friends has asked me several years in a row, what’s about sending Christmas cards?  Why is this a custom?  I’ve been thinking about why.  And came up with some reasons that I thought were pretty good but it seemed important to consult with the experts.  So, I googled it.  Forbes and Atlantic had asked their journalists to cover the same question.  The Forbes article claimed that Christmas letters were sent, once upon a time, perhaps pre-Dickens, from parents to their children.  Parents took the opportunity of impending gift-giving to remonstrate their children for infractions, general disruliness (this seems to be a word even though the Word spellchecker dislikes it), ego aggrandizement, and insolence.  I could think of a few people that might need such a letter but I am also certain the admonishment would be disregarded.   

Increasingly, parents abandoned their chastisements and encouraged their children to write to Santa Claus to request gifts.  This surely picked up speed as Christmas gift giving became more common among family members, neighbors, and friends.  Then, as moving became more common place, Christmas letters became opportunities to reach out to friends across the world.  I remember as a child being so delighted when Christmas cards came.  We learned so much about where our friends were and what they were up to.  Deleted sentence.

The Atlantic article asked if Christmas letters are even relevant given the easy access to social media.  I still love getting them.  It’s not so much the chronicle of the year but more about connecting with how our friends and family are negotiating the complex, fraught contexts in which we live our lives.   Our connections and responses to one another remind us that our experiences and everyday lives are enriched by compassion, empathy, celebration and above all, sharing.  This is the best that I’ve got, for this year.

John and I have wonderful grandchildren who thrill us with their humor, aspirations, accomplishments, and charm.  We don’t want to embarrass them by enumerating all that they do but we want to mention them first because they are frequent inhabitants of our thoughts:  Oscar, Mora, and Evi.  One other important aspect of grandchildren is that they like to play games inside and out.  This is highly admirable.  Since they are inclusive, they let their grandparents play with them.  This keeps us laughing and well. 

We treasure the time that we spend with our amazing children and their partners who are all staring at 50 which as far we can tell is really the new 35 which means healthy, balanced lives.  I guess that makes me and John the new 55.  Matt and Andrea, Jason, and Mary, Heather and Leo – you live fascinating, purposeful lives. 

John and I are glad to be able to say that we are living together under one roof.  We own only one house.  This, after 10 years of owning two homes, renting another house, and living away from each other at least part of every year.  It is a pleasure and a relief to feel home again.  We hope that all of you make your way to the Pacific Northwest and our home.  Better that you come after March and before November to avoid the rainy season but, you are always welcome.  We can promise that no matter when you find yourself in Seattle, we have room for you to visit us in Poulsbo.  There are flowers blooming all year long.  The cedars beckon.

Merry Christmas and A Very Happy New Year,

John and Elizabeth