Sunday, 29 November 2015

30 days in November 29...

Today is:

Electronic Greetings Day

I’ve been skipping most of the paper cards for years. In fact I wouldn’t bother if it weren’t expected, all they do is clutter up the place and gather dust. Besides my mother in law has this annoying habit of reading and counting them all and then saying things like: 'I see that you didn't get a card from cousin Gertrude this year, I did', or 'only thirty-seven cards this year, last year you had thirty-nine'.

So fluffing what, and just what have our card numbers got to do with her anyway? But then she picks up my personal mail if it is lying about and reads that too like some sort of cold war Stasi agent. What she thinks gives her the right to do this is inexplicable, but she does it anyway.

Fortunately she doesn’t use email or texts, so her future in surveillance (spying) is limited, as at some point I’m sure that I will turn away from paper altogether. Just think of the multi-level advantages if everyone just stopped sending cards to each other (some of whom are people I hardly ever see and sometimes don’t even really know or like). We’d be saving some trees, saving some money, saving the postman’s poor old legs, saving my mother in law from knowing too much (which can be dangerous even if you are Stasi) and saving ourselves a lot of time writing and addressing all those endless bloody cards to people who don't really care.

Sorry if I'm sounding like a Smith's greatest hits CD, but honestly what difference does it make?

And of course on the plus side electronic greetings can be so much more than a scribbled signature and a meaningless, almost illegible bon mot. Electronic greetings are multi dimensional and can be creative with text, photos, videos and music. Just think of how lovely it would be to receive a greeting of fluffy kittens singing silent night or to send a video of your dog destroying the Christmas tree and eating all the presents.

Best of all, those lovely electronic reminders means nobody need ever be forgotten. Not even my mother in law... Mores the pity.

14 comments:

  1. Maggie Patzuk on FB
    Perhaps you could tuck into your pile of mail notes on "disposing of bodies" or "how to rid yourself of annoying family members". smile emoticon

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    Replies
    1. Andrew Height
      She has a key and used to let herself in unannounced. I pointed out that the key was for emergencies and not for her to just walk in. She didn't listen so I started walking around naked. That stopped her wink emoticon

      Delete
    2. Maggie Patzuk
      Andrew Height - BWAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Perfect!!!!!

      Delete

    3. Maggie Patzuk
      I am old enough to remember when it was fun to get "mail".

      Delete
    4. Andrew Height
      Me too Maggie and sometimes I still write letters with my ink pen, but the reality is i never get a letter back in return, just a message or a mail. The card thing irks me, I feel that some people use it as a way of protesting and others out of habit.

      Delete
  2. John Hatton on FB
    I've already put the stamp on your card...I guess I can steam it open like a Stazi agent!

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    Replies
    1. Andrew Height
      I wonder if she does that too John?

      Delete

    2. John Hatton
      I miss letters?...I've kept some and still enjoy reading them occassionally?

      Delete

  3. Cloe Fyne on FB
    Every year I say I'm not sending any and every year I do! I need to embrace technology more!

    Andrew Height
    As long as Santa doesn't start using email.

    Cloe Fyne
    No. He won't I reckon.

    Cloe Fyne
    Ever!

    Cloe Fyne
    Xxx


    ReplyDelete
  4. Tim Preston on FB
    I reckon that when they were invented in Victorian times they were a neat little idea but they've become one of those things that rules your life. You HAVE to set an evening out to get them all done and the point is? Personally I hate writing them and I really hate recieving them. It's like having an emotion delivered by proxy - so I don't do it - they just fill me with misery. However, I must admit that I do love those Daily Mash cards that say "Obligation Fulfilled" rather than "Happy Christmas" grin emoticon

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    Replies
    1. Andrew Height
      i once made pre-printed cards with a dotted line to enter the name. I got complaints!

      Delete

    2. Tim Preston
      grin emoticon

      Delete
  5. Buffey Glandonon FB
    I'm terrible. I rarely send cards via snail mail, and that is probably why I get so few. But there is one card that I look forward to every year...my Christmas card from former president Jimmy Carter. I'm not sure why I get one, or even when it started, but for some reason it makes me happy. I will be sad when they stop coming.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Andrew Height
      That is so weird. Buffey.. wink emoticon

      Delete