2000-11-30 - 18:53 MST

Novmber 30, 2000

Argent Words

Each Christmas card I choose carefully, trying to fit the whole to the personality of the ones I am sending it to. The pictures have meanings as well as the words inside, along with our hand written notes which also have great meaning.

As I write each name and address down, each separate alphabetical letter written brings fond thoughts of those people and memories of pleasant times together. Some are to people who shared the joys and tribulations of raising children along side of us and the memories of picnics, watching the children play tag and of the rummy games in the evening, dinner on the grounds at church, Boy and Girl Scouting events, neighboring and partying.

Some are to people older than we are who are all becoming fewer as we find ourselves at the top of the ladder looking down to the rapid descent on the other side. Some are to childhood playmates and school chums who have also begun to dwindle. While doing those cards thoughts and memories of them and those who have gone on wreathe our senses with silvery tendrils and remind us of how much the departed older ones have loved us and taught us.

Some cards go to grandchildren who are now having their own children or thinking about it, bringing us many thoughts of following their progress and vicariously living through their enjoyments as they grew up. We have a few great grandchildren who are not reading yet but are thrilled when they get a card from Grammy and Poppa. Children of friends get their share from us because they are part of the great circle too.

Friends, co-workers from the jobs now behind us, those whose lives we had a part in which fostered friendship and fellowship among us.

Each card takes so long, choosing, reading, writing a note here and there while floating on the stream of placid, joyful times and shooting the happy rapids of of our social parties and events.

The clock runs on behind us, but unknowing and unaware, we are in the past not the present. We each start on Christmas cards in the morning and are amazed when dusk pulls the shades across the day. We enjoy a few more hours of the uplifting of spirits from rejoining old friends and reacquainting ourselves with who we are and who we once were.

Then a spot of dessert with our hot tea and so to bed to begin a new episode in our serial dream life.

Then to wake up in the morning with, hallelujah, still some cards left to do. The operation will take longer then because fitting the fresh memories into the already thick layer of loving thoughts takes longer.

I used to think that receiving Christmas cards was so great, a little like the thrill of getting Valentines in school. But now, the grand operation of preparing them, choosing the words we write carefully, gingerly using our best penmanship, those building blocks of wonderful exchanges, those happy making phrases. Then addressing and stamping the envelopes and taking the prepared mail to the postoffice to speed them on their way in the process of reaching out to touch our heart to distant hearts is an exhilarating activity. Labored over, deeply thought, carefully penned and stamped packages of Argent Words . . . . . . .

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