Saturday, December 23, 2006

The Letter

This is the time of year I prepare my Christmas cards and think about what I am going to say, or not say. The Christmas letter is impersonal, and can come off as being bragging and downright solipsistic. Oh, look what I did. Or what the dogs did, or look what we did. Ooh. That strikes me as being more blog friendly territory, or am I being solipsistic is my assumption?

What I really would like to get my hands on is the Christmas letter my father sends out to people. Now there's some real juice. In the past 20 years I have never had the privilege of seeing one, and I think that's mainly because he hasn't offered to share. What secret is he telling? What facts does he choose to elaborate on, or comepletely ignore? That my brother has an impressive gun collection, rivalled only by his collection of Punisher comics? That my sister has permanently developed a Massachusetts accent, and her children are typical boys who pee on the side of the house? That his youngest daughter has not one but two composters in her back yard, has no children yet but is married to a man with a good sense of humor and who always runs the grill when he visits his home? That his wife has the patience of a saint, is probably the nicest person on earth and still makes him bland meals, even after 40 years of marriage? All these things shared are truths.

The older I get the more I become distant from the actions of my government, and the selfish actions of people. But I have a happy life, a wonderful husband, 2 dogs, a house, a garden and a job. I question some things, and accept others. I've progressed, and regressed. It's a good life and it's been a good year. Happy holidays!

4 comments:

CBK said...

Merry Christmad, Sarah and Lars! Thanks for the card, BTW.

That's so strange that your dad writes a Christmas letter and doesn't show it to his family.

Malathionman said...

I just came across your blog doing the "next blog" thing. So I thought I would leave a comment.
As a boy I don't remember peeing on the side "my own" house.

Hyperher said...

M-man: Maybe it isn't a common thing. I think the thing I was getting at was the freedom little boys have to go wherever they can, whereas for girls it becomes a little more complicated.

Malathionman said...

Hey, I said "my own" house. :) I knew some girls where it wasn't THAT complicated. :)