Christmas Form Letters

[rivermom]

Christmas form letters.....Those page long letters so often tucked into the Christmas cards we receive from family and friends each year.

Do you like them??

Do you send them??

[Janet]

I don't send them. I love receiving them...sometimes. Depends on who they are from...LOL I usually get two a year. One from a friend down the road...always nice to hear what they've been up to and see pics of the kids. The other one I get is from my cousin. Her husband thinks and acts like he is God's right hand man and I don't like getting his about their family.

I don't know if that is the 'form' letter you're talking about, but these are the two I get. Do you like them?

[DianaB]

I really enjoy getting letters in my Christmas cards. We get them from familiies that have moved away from here that we were friends with. I really enjoy when they include pictures so you can see how the kids have grown. Personally, I'd like to do one but I just don't get it done.

[rivermom]

Originally Posted by Janet

I don't send them. I love receiving them...sometimes. Depends on who they are from...LOL I usually get two a year. One from a friend down the road...always nice to hear what they've been up to and see pics of the kids. The other one I get is from my cousin. Her husband thinks and acts like he is God's right hand man and I don't like getting his about their family.

I don't know if that is the 'form' letter you're talking about, but these are the two I get. Do you like them?

Yes, those are the letter's I'm talking about. Do I like them? Well hmmmmm. I actually prefer receiving hand written notes on the cards as they feel more personal to me.

[Janet]

I've never gotten one handwritten. Nope, just done on the computer with digital pictures included. I don't mind that though.

[rivermom]

Originally Posted by Janet

I've never gotten one handwritten. Nope, just done on the computer with digital pictures included. I don't mind that though.

lol - no i mean just a hand written note on the card itself w/out enclosing a form letter. All the forms I've seen have been computer printed also. I couldn't imagine those form letters being hand written. Goodness can you imagine the time involved? WOW.

I was just curious about what you all thought of them.

I read a magazine article about them. The proper etiquette on writing them and such.

[Janet]

I see you are laughing.....LOL You probably think I'm an old boob don't ya...LOL Sometimes it takes me awhile...but it's a fun ride till I get there...LOLOLOL

[DianaB]

I must be an old boob with ya', Janet, because I was following your train of thought!!!!

No, I don't like cards that have printed signatures. They don't seem very personal to me.

Am I following in the right direction now?

[rivermom]

Oh gosh - I am not laughing at you. I'm actually laughing at myself because I couldn't explain it all correctly.

But yes...Now we are all on the same page.

I do apologize for not explaining it well.

[judy]

I don't get them, but I'd love to know the etiquette! Is there a PC way to send them? Like "don't mention Aunt Trudy's gall bladder, or the fact that hubby is using viagra now, and, oh boy, life is FUN?"

[Janet]

Speaking of viagra...LOL When my mother-in-law and I were cleaning out this one cabinet in the kitchen (when she was getting ready to sell the house), we found some. She got all embarrassed and said..well now I know...ha ha ha ha I laughed so hard I almost peed and then she started laughing too. She had no idea he had it...LOLOL


I am such a dork....I don't know what came over me to tell you that....ROFLMBO!!!!!

My in-laws are probably rolling over in their graves.

[Gina]

Sheryl.. Let me get this straight do you mean just a personalized message that you would handwrite in the card right?? lol

I do that to friends that I have not seen who have moved far. I also receive these written notes in my cards. It does add a special touch..

I don't get my cards personalized but to tell you the truth I send over 90 cards between family , friends and clients. My hands get tired of writing...lol

[Mandy]

Hmm.... i thought about this while doing my cards this year. I use to be very good about it, and write a little note in the card to personalize it a little, but ive become lazy. Now i just write "with love from," *******
********
& *******

[rivermom]

Originally Posted by judy

I don't get them, but I'd love to know the etiquette! Is there a PC way to send them? Like "don't mention Aunt Trudy's gall bladder, or the fact that hubby is using viagra now, and, oh boy, life is FUN?"

Judy - the article did actually mention exactly what you are talking about. It also suggested not to mention anything too negative like death of Aunt Jo, etc. This sorta discussion should be saved for a phone call.

The article also went on to say not to spend the entire time bragging in your form letter, to try to write a little hand written note on each so the "personalization" comes across, and to hand write your signature.

[rivermom]

Originally Posted by Gina

Sheryl.. Let me get this straight do you mean just a personalized message that you would handwrite in the card right?? lol

I do that to friends that I have not seen who have moved far. I also receive these written notes in my cards. It does add a special touch..

I don't get my cards personalized but to tell you the truth I send over 90 cards between family , friends and clients. My hands get tired of writing...lol

Yes - any hand written note to have the recipient feel it's personal and has a special touch for them, etc.

Form letters personally to me are just not my favorite. Actually my hubby teases and laughs at me when I open a card and receive one as I usually make grunting noises. LOL

I received a card this year from my brother and sil. Theirs had a pre-printed signature and I felt it lost personal touch. However, possibly they are like you Gina sending out sooo many cards and just don't have the time to hand write their signature or a little note of Christmas cheer.

I totally see both sides to this.