In Praise of Snail Mail

The cards are arriving, my favorite part of  holiday decor. They're displayed on the mantel and also in a contraption that holds the ones that don't stand up as well on their own, the photo greeting cards.

The cards are all colors, shapes and sizes. Some say "Merry Christmas," others say "Happy Holidays." Some are religious, others are not. Dogs on cards are big this year, with birds on cards a close second. Somehow, despite the wide variety, they always work together beautifully; there is harmony in the disarray.

As the world evolves, becomes more digital, fewer snail mail missives make their way to the house. But there is still a critical mass — and I treasure the cards I receive even more.

I'm just off the phone with a dear friend whose card will be late this year, she says. We chatted about why we refuse to go totally electronic in our communication (she still sends magazine and newspaper clippings!), about how much it means to receive a note that someone has taken the time to write, stamp and send.  I'll admit I'm a dinosaur — and I have the mantel to prove it.