(no subject)

[floatingleaf]

Just a quick thank you to mellacita for the snowflake.:) It was a nice surprise. I meant to congratulate you on all the recognition you received for the SNAP challenge project... I just never got around to it. So I'm all the more surprised that you thought to send me a virtual gift. *blinks*

Also, thank you to dissonant_dream and willys_digs for the holiday cards. I really appreciate the gesture, even if it makes me feel bad in a way, because I haven't sent any cards this year and most likely won't. I have a weird relationship with holiday cards. They used to be a big part of my life at one point... long ago. You know, B.I. (Before Internet, LOL) I used to have scores of penpals, with whom I mostly communicated through snail mail, and sending them Christmas & Easter cards was simply a continuation of that... sometimes even an opportunity to say, "hey, what's up, haven't heard from you in a while". Back then, I still lived in Poland, where there was a huge variety of tasteful, aesthetically pleasing holiday cards to choose from. Most of the time, I could send a different, though equally beautiful card to everyone on my list. Which was big part of the fun, as far as I'm concerned.

Then I moved to the States, and most of those 'snail mail friendships' either dissolved or switched over to the internet. It seemed kinda pointless to keep sending paper cards, especially since, in my humble opinion, most of the cards available in US stores are quite shockingly ugly. At least in comparison to what I was used to. I mean, the most popular cartoon-style type of cards I keep seeing everywhere just makes me cringe... and there's hardly anything else to choose from. You CAN find a tolerable design on occasion - but those are usually quite expensive, as well as sold in boxes of 10-20 cards with the same design, which means I would have to send the exact same thing to everyone. And I just... I don't know. It seems pointless and wrong, somehow. Call me crazy. Maybe I am. But it just isn't the same anymore, and I can't find the motivation to do it. There is also the fact that I don't even know real names or physical addresses of some LJ friends that I would most like to send cards to - in one case at least, due to the person's concern for her privacy, which I totally understand and don't have a problem with... HOWEVER, since I can't send a snail mail card to that particular person, I don't really feel like sending them to anybody else either.

Plus, the holidays don't really hold much meaning for me, either religious or otherwise. Originally, the cards were just a means to get in touch - and since that can be done much more easily through the net these days... In other words, receiving a response to an LJ post or a comment is a much more pleasant and meaningful surprise for me than receiving a holiday card. And I don't mean that in a disrespectful way. I'm just being honest.

I do realize all of the above may seem like lame excuses... and maybe they are. If you think I'm just being lazy, impolite, ungrateful and basically a Scrooge, you have every right to that opinion and I will not try to correct you. I haven't signed up to receive cards from anyone, because I don't think it's fair under the circumstances - so if I receive some anyway, it's not because I was expecting them. Which doesn't mean I don't appreciate them... it just means I won't be offended if you take me off your list. It's just like with the 'friending' - sometimes you add someone to your friends' list because they added you first, and you think it'd be impolite not to add them back; but then you don't really follow their posts, because there isn't much of a connection. Still, you know that some people are very touchy about being 'defriended', so you don't dare do that - just in case. I'm pretty sure it happens to everyone. I've certainly been on both ends of this type of situation. What I'm trying to say is that if I don't seem to return the effort someone is putting into maintaining a connection with me, then I'm probably not worth it. On the other hand, if I do care about someone, they most likely know about it. Even if I never sent them a Christmas card to prove it.:)

Well... that's all by way of valuable insights from yours truly tonight. *yawn*

Comments

[dissonant-dream.livejournal.com]

I completely understand what you're saying and I think it makes sense. I don't send out cards because I want them in return and I know that we're good and that our friendship is good. So long as you liked getting a card from me, that's all I wanted. And if you don't want one next year, you tell me. :) *hugs*

[floatingleaf.livejournal.com]

I know that we're good and that our friendship is good. So long as you liked getting a card from me, that's all I wanted.

You're an absolute sweetheart, you know that? *squishes*

And I will send you a card one day. Not a holiday card, perhaps, but a random friendship card. If I ever find one that I deem good enough for you.;P

[dissonant-dream.livejournal.com]

That's completely awesome, and also, thank you. ♥ :D *hugs*

[willys-digs.livejournal.com]

NO need to apologize. I don't really celebrate Christmas, but it's the least I can do for my LJ buddies.

*squishes*

Jo