Christmas cards

The longer I live here, the more I learn about things that just aren't as simple as they were back in the States. One of those things is buying Christmas cards. In the States you can walk into any Wal-Mart, Target, bookstore, Dollar Tree, or grocery store and choose from a wide variety of boxed Christmas cards, anywhere from 10-50 cards per box. Here in Kandern, however, boxed Christmas cards can't be found. Oh sure there are Christmas cards, but they're sold individually, in racks right next to the birthday and anniversary cards. I searched all the shops and stores in town, and asked around at BFA to see if anyone knew of places out of town where I could find my coveted boxed cards.

Finally admitting defeat, I resorted to making my own Christmas cards. Last year I also made my own, but I had friends equipped with the supplies to make nice looking cards: thousands of rubber stamps, inkpads in every color, and a massive collection of pretty patterned papers. This year, I have a pad of construction paper and a 10-pack of Crayola markers.

So I sat down this afternoon hoping to crank out a stack of cards and get my Christmas mailing ready. I gave up two hours and eight cards later because I was getting a cramp in my hand from all the cutting, drawing, and writing. Even with all that effort, my cards look like a ten-year-old made them. If you got a card from me last year, I apologize in advance for the poor quality of this year's card!

The interesting thing is that as I searched for these cards and agonized over how simple it would be to do this in Ohio, I started thinking about how this is a reflection of culture. Americans place a huge value on the frills and thrills of Christmas; all the material aspects like decorations, presents, parties, and cards. Why do we really send Christmas cards? Because we truly care for people and want to with them Christmas blessings, or because we got a card from them last year and feel guilty about not returning the "favor"? This week I read John Grisham's Skipping Christmas, on which the movie "Christmas with the Kranks" is based. If you're unfamiliar with the plot, Luther and Nora Krank have decided to forgo the formalities of Christmas and go on a Carribean cruise and face hilarious consequences. Here, Nora considers not sending Christmas cards this year:

According to Luther's audit, The Pumpkin Seed had collected $318 from the Kranks last Christmas for cards, and at the moment it did seem somewhat extravagant. Not a major expense, but what did they get from it? Luther flatly refused to help with the addressing and stamping, and he flew hot every time she asked if so-and-so should be added to or deleted from their list. He also refused to offer so much as a glance at any of the cards they received, and Nora had to admit to herself that there was a diminishing joy in getting them...Nora asked herself how many on her list would even notice. She received a few dozen each year, a dwindling number, she admitted, and she kept no log of who bothered and who didn't. In the turmoil of Christmas, who really had time to fret over a card that didn't come? Which brought up another of Luther's favorite holiday gripes - the emergency stash. Nora kept an extra supply [of cards] so she could respond immediately to an unexpected card. Every year they received two or three from total strangers and a few from folks who hadn't sent them before, and within twenty-four hours she'd dash off the Kranks' holiday greetings in response, always with her standard handwritten note of good cheer and peace be with you. Of course it was foolish.

Unlike Nora, I don't feel the need to send a Christmas card to every person I've ever spoken with. But also unlike Luther, I don't want to neglect the important people in my life at Christmas. So somewhere between Nora's obsession and Luther's total apathy, hopefully I've found the balance with my cards this year.