The Annual Christmas Card List

Each year my list of Christmas card recipients grows or changes. The past two years I have moved to address labels much to my mother’s chagrin, primarily because handwriting 150 addresses on top of the other holiday events which are on top of all other motherly duties is just too much. Also, it gives me an opportunity to write a personal note inside of the cards rather than signing them and sending them out. I spend a lot of time each year designing the card, typically with a choice photo. One year, while in college, I even turned out a large stack of handmade cards which I ran through the printing press. But those days are long gone.

Yesterday I ordered only 100 cards for this year. In the meantime I have spent some time trying to whittle down my list. I now have it to about 124 and feel good knowing I can take a few addresses (the next door neighbors) off the list and still feel good. Of course nature does some of the work for me. My first step was to go and take out those that passed away this year. We lost quite a few relatives this year and it really feels like longer than a year since losing my Great Aunt Bessie in January. But typically for every address that is removed there is another to take its place. This year I spent a lot of time concentrating on the friendships that I already have. I feel blessed to have such a good group of friends, both in my community and spread out all over the country. With that in mind I am getting ready to order an extra 20 cards, simply because I can’t bear to take anyone else off of my list. And luckily for those who I just got in touch with this past year, there is always Facebook.

$1.00

As I was pulling into the parking lot at Joann Fabrics for an hour of “kid free” time to look at fabric and patterns I saw a man waving his arms and looking really perturbed. I thought of parking in a different section, but I like parking on this particular side of the store. I don’t like for others actions to change my own. I was just getting ready to turn of the ignition when he spoke to me through the minivan glass. I rolled down my window and leaned over the passenger seat to listen while explained that:
1) He would not approach my car.
2) He needed Greyhound fair totaling something around $15.00 and so far he had $8.50.
3) He was not on “dope” or going to use the money he collected for any other purpose but to get a ticket out of Frederick (maybe I should have joined him).

He was agitated because he had apparently approached some Hispanics at the nearby Salvadoran restaurant who got upset with him. I told him I had a dollar, which really was all that I had on me, except for some change. He told me to toss it out of the car, he wouldn’t approach me or my vehicle. Really. I told him to just come get it as I leaned over the passenger seat handing it out the window. He already felt dirty enough, why make him felt worse by tossing it on the street and quickly rolling up my window?

Of course I will never know if what he said was true, and figure it’s just a dollar which won’t make or break me. I went shopping with the knowledge that I had a Joann Fabrics coupon in my purse so it would all work out fine.

After a long hour of shopping and comparing prices I approached the cash register with a cheap pattern and a few zippers. I pulled out my coupon and on further examination realized the coupon is good for next week. Ugh! The cashier, an older lady, said, “Well I have one here.” and pulled a coupon out of her apron asking if I wanted to use it on the pattern, the most expensive item. I said yes. When she looked at the total she said, “That’s weird. I thought it would have taken off more. It just took off a dollar.” I thought, “No, it took off the correct amount.”