Holiday Cards Ranking System with a Bonus Side of Awkward at Southern By Proxy

Remember back in the olden days before Facebook and economic downturns, you would to go to the mailbox during the holidays and be nearly toppled over by the cards flowing from the mailbox? Holiday and Christmas cards have always been one of THE highlights of the season for me and I look forward every year to finding photos, letters, and cards from friends and family. Opening the mailbox to find Christmas cards is almost as great as Christmas morning!

It seems that every year, I’ve been getting fewer and fewer cards. Last year, I can’t remember exactly how many cards I received, but it was a dismal number. Pitiful, even!

This year, I’ve decided to take a drastic measure and pare down my own Christmas Card send-to list. The criteria for removal from my list is this: If you haven’t sent me a card in two years, then NO CARD FOR YOU. But It’s not like I’m a heartless wench. I’m really quite generous and will offer leniency when 1) you’re elderly, 2) you have had extenuating circumstances that could possibly have led you to not send out cards, 3) you’re my parents, or 4) I just want to be sure you see how cute my children are.

Despite the slicing and dicing of my list, I always keep a few spare cards just in case of stragglers. There’s always those few people who I had finally given up on and had taken them off my list when lo and behold I get a card from them in the mail. It’s a delicate balance, figuring out when to send a card in return. If I send it right away, will it seem like I only sent it because they sent me one? To seem totally nonchalant, I usually wait a week before sending them one in return.

So yeah, maybe I over think holiday cards a bit too much. It’s just that I LOVE THEM SO!

I will admit to secretly ranking the Christmas cards I receive. (Yes I realize that beggars can’t be choosers, but some are just better than others.) Awkward family photos anyone?

(photo credit for the above image)

01 Holiday Cards Ranking System with a Bonus Side of Awkward

Cards with merely a signature.

I get it! You're super busy. But just a Ted and Linda or Margaret and Charlotte? That's it? Nothing else? Redemption is possible if the card is funny.
(photo credit)