The Annual Christmas Letter, Annoying and Now Digital

Copyright 2012, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Yes, I am one of those annoying friends that used to send you annoying Christmas letters in my holiday cards.

(Guilty!)

Since 2009, I have become either more or less annoying, depending on your view of blogging, digital holiday greetings and of course, annoying Christmas letters.

(Yep, that's me!)

I'll even be more annoying by giving you the links to prior posts here on Reflections that cover the annoying holiday letters - -

(Yep, I will!)

2009 (The history.)

2010 (I was not the first to write holiday letters.)

2011 (Full octane annoying holiday letter, digital style.)

I will refrain from giving you a lot of links back to any number of holiday posts, stockings, meals, cookies, decorating, trees, I have a number of posts.  If you are really interested and have lots of time on your hands, you can use that search block in the right hand column, grab your drink of choice, a holiday cookie, and read away.

(I must be mellowing, refraining like that - - - NAHHH!  LOL)

My tree in Tana, taken in 2010.  

So, here goes the abbreviated version of the annoying holiday letter, version 2012:

Regular readers will know we are on the road again, this time I am calling the trip, a very original type name,   THE Trip, THE Encore'.  We started out about November 1st, traveled the Natchez Trace, visited, New Orleans, New Iberia, Galveston, Fredericksburg, Big Bend National Park, Fort Davis area, a quick stop in Las Cruces, the Tombstone Arizona area and are now in Tucson for a month for the holidays.  So far it has been a delightful trip.  Our friends J & D are traveling in their beautiful Motorhome with their border collie.

With bated breath I tell you that the 2 fur kids are hangin' in there (Cappy has had a rough week, I fear he is exhibiting signs of kidney failure like Tilly did just before we lost her).  Living with seniors is a challenge, we are thankful for each additional day they share with us.

Our children and grands are our anchors, our delights.  We do miss them while we are on the road, and profess that we believe that Skype was developed just for us!  There are times when we just cannot connect via Skype, but we do so enjoy it when the net is fast!  WOOT!

2012 has also been one of loss for us, several family members and friends have passed, we miss them so much.  We know they are with their Maker, this knowledge gives us peace.

If you have a burning desire to know too many details of our lives in 2012, may I suggest that you start reading, there are 248 posts, give or take, so far here on Reflections for 2012.

(Yes, I suggested that !  LOL)

I think I will end this 2012 holiday version of the annoying holiday letter with a quote from my 2011 version, which is heart felt and hopefully not annoying to you my friends and readers:

Man and I wish you and yours a peaceful, wonderful holiday season and a hugely successful year in 2013.  May your wheels (for our RVing friends) roll you to places yet unexplored.  May your brick walls (for my genie friends) come tumbling down.  

May your family be happy.  May your souls find peace.

Love and Peace to All

Man and Carol

* From now till Christmas I will refrain from trip posts, I have posted some photos of holiday lights and some other "fun?" things.  THE Trip, THE Encore' reports will return sometime after Christmas Day.

(You have been warned!  LOL)

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Blog Caroling, Little Drummer Boy, Sung By John Denver

Copyright 2011, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Thanks to footnoteMaven's sponsorship and challenge, it is time for the Christmas Carol - Blog Caroling. 

Just call me a child at heart, one of my favorite holiday songs has always been "The Little Drummer Boy", it really tugs at my heart.   In 1968 Rankin/Bass Productions released the animated television version of the story of the song.  I don't remember watching it back in 1968, but, by the 70's I had young children and this was one of the several holiday stories we found ourselves watching just about every single year.  Ya, I almost always teared up, sappy Carol.  I loved the story, I loved the animation, I loved the song.

When I went searching for a version on YouTube, I was delighted to find snippets of the original animated version and the song sung by the late John Denver, another one of my favorites.  WIN!!  And, here it is, I hope you enjoy!  The reason for the season.

May the blessings of the season be with you.



This video was posted by  YouTube user mistikay.
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Advent Calendar, Christmas Cards

GeneaBloggers has a Advent Calendar event this year, 24 days of family history related subjects to challenge the researcher. The prompt/challenge for December 4th is:

Did your family send cards? Did your family display the ones they received? Do you still send Christmas cards? Do you have any cards from your ancestors?

Ok, caught me, I am one of those annoying friends that sends annual Christmas letters. I started this annual ritual when Man and I lived in Morocco in the early 1970's during his Naval days. I wanted to share our lives and news with so many friends and family, that I cooked up this idea to write one letter and duplicate it.

I have been writing them ever since, they have progressed from simple typed letters to letters with cutsie (well, I thought they were cute) graphics to letters with photos of family and yorkies (but of course).

Above, one of the early graphics.

The last few years I have taken to publishing these Christmas greetings in a PDF format and forwarding it via email. The first couple of years I tried this I expressed to friends and family the belief that it was not the format of delivery of our Christmas message and blessings that mattered, but the thought. If any were aggravated by my choice of delivery, they did not say so.

I have copies of most of my letters from 1984 to 2008. They are scanned and linked to my family history data base. Man tells me his mother has copies of every one I ever sent.

One thing about maintaining copies, your family events are duly recorded. Re-reading them is a great deal of fun. Much like reviewing old family photos.

Yes, there are still regular Christmas cards mailed out, many stuffed with the annual Christmas letter.

*Graphics are all from past Christmas letters, and were usually obtained from clip art software programs, long ago retired, source information long lost.

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