Upside-down Holiday Cards

and other mirthful mishaps

Writing messy holiday cards. Photo credit: Amanda Marmer

Okay, I’ll admit it. Despite co-owning a stationery brand, I waited until the last minute to get my family photo holiday cards ordered (the cobbler’s children, etc.).  They arrived in record time (thanks, Mixbook!), with one wee surprise. While fiddling with the online ordering interface, I apparently placed the photo on the back of the card UPSIDE DOWN.

Thankfully, the photo was accompanied by a humorous Bill Murray quote: 

 “Always give 100% – unless you’re giving blood.” 

To which I’ll add: 

“Always forgive 100% — especially during the holidays.”

As my mother-in-law likes to casually shrug, “hey-ho!” (HO HO!). I strongly suspect my Beautiful Oops! will go unnoticed because, just like me, most of the people who receive my upsidedown cards will cheerfully place them — after lovingly reading every word, of course — into a haphazard(LY FESTIVE!) pile.  Cards, gift wrap, gift lists, Amazon boxes, decorations, clutter — the holiday season is messy!

Photo by Data Gogia on Unsplash

Speaking of messy, the true joy I have found this season is writing messy handwritten cards to friends and colleagues.  The fact that my handwriting is barely legible adds to the fun – like finding a fabulous vintage frock at a flea market.  It’s that juicy feeling of real human connection via poor penmanship. As Cal Newport notes in his Deep Questions podcast, online relationships are a mere simulacrum of real-world friendships. Deep friendships take work, time, and lots of schlepping. Gazing into each other’s eyes, rather than glancing at each other’s texts. Revealing the messiness of our real lives, warts, wobbles, wisdom and all. It’s what all humans crave.

I dare you to try to decipher my handwriting

I’m deeply familiar with the internal resistance to writing old-fashioned cards.  As a society, we’ve developed a collective mental block.  Oh, it’ll take too much time!  No one will be able to read my chicken scratch!  How do I mail this thing again? 

The truth?  It takes as much time to dash off a heart-felt card as it does to send a thoughtful text or email.  And the ROE (return on effort) is huge. As my middle schooler said to me spontaneously the other day, “I LOVE getting cards in the mail! There’s just something so satisfying about it!”  Kids don’t lie.

My favorite things to write in holiday cards are:  “I am SO grateful for your friendship!” and “What a year!  (insert favorite memories of time with friend!)”  and “Sending big love and hugs! ” and “Can’t wait to see you in the new year!”  I also love telling friends that they are a gift. Because they truly are. As the Dalai Lama said, we’ve learned to “use people and love things” rather than “use things and love people.”The spirit of the season is all about loving our people; they’re the real treasures. And there’s no better way to express it than in a hand-written, messy, upside-down card.