Christmas card sadness

I have not sent many cards this year - no time really. But I have sent about 20 to old friends who I knew were not aware of OH's deterioration and that he is now in a NH. It was indeed sad writing this 20 times over - but it is done now and I knew that they would have wanted to know.

My 1st husband's mother died this year and I was upset when writing cards (as were my children) not to be sending her one! Ive also not had the heart to delete her name from the phone !

When we first married I had a little address book, and the majority of the names in there were included on my Christmas card list. As the years went by, one by one Aunts or Uncles would be crossed through until eventually the little book just made me feel so sad and I rewrote my Christmas list into a new address book.

After a while, of course, this list made its way onto a computer and most years lately there have been further deletions, but now these are friends and relatives in our own generation. And somehow it's worse, because when they are deleted, they're not simply crossed through, but they disappear altogether, into the ether, as if they'd never been on my list to begin with

It is very upsetting, isn't it? I completely understand how you feel Urmstongran

Do not everybody checks their christmas card lists - in my last house, where I lived for 16 years, every single christmas a card would arrive addressed to the previous owners (who had moved abroad - no idea as to their address). This card always contained best wishes and just first names -no return address. They obviously had had no contact with the people they were sending this card to for at least 16 years - it always made me very perplexed. Bet the people who bought my house have received that there this year!!!

Christmas can be sad too.
I keep all my cards from one year to the next just in case....
I still put up my sisters last card to me. She died in Jan 2011. Also I still have the last present I bought my brother. He died on Christmas day 2011 before he got to open it, only 52. Its in my keepsake box.

tanith, I know what you mean. It's the second year now that I'm just signing my name. I might be silly, but I still buy a card for my dear DH.

I was just feeling the same thing Urmston.

I haven't got around to putting addresses on the PC so each year I have to get out my tatty address book and do get sad when I see two particularly good friends who died far too young.

That is sad, Tanith ?

I was very sad writing mine, no longer adding my darling husband and receiving cards addressed to just me. ?

I have a card list and every year I’m crossing names off although making new friends (Spain) Urmstongran- they tend to do Facebook/Messenger so will do theirs electronically.

DH last customer died in October and although he retired years ago, he used to pop in and do the odd little job when we were passing. She was the last of twenty and it’s the closing of a chapter and quite sad!

Oh kitty that must have been so hard.
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I did that for several years with the card my mum would send me for my birthday ybnb. She had bad arthritis in her writing hand so the cards to me and my sister were the only ones she wrote herself, bless.

Actually, whilst I was in the shower (I know!) I got to thinking ... ‘you do seem to assume you’ll be here yourself writing these cards next Christmas!’
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I can understand that Urmston.

The hardest christmas cards I had to write were the ones in the Christmas following DS1's stroke. It broke my heart each time!

Yes. I keep all my cards from one year to the next so I can check I’ve sent to those who sent to me. What I found was a couple from a friend and a relative who passed away in 2019.

Have put those to one side to keep.

Totally understand, we have had the same situation, lost a dear friend in the summer and Mr,Gravy's Aunt 3 weeks ago.

I have a "Christmas Book" containing my card and present lists, more spaces each year.