I sent Christmas cards for the first time ever. | Have a Very Meowy Christmas cat photo Christmas cards from Walgreens.

I sent Christmas cards for the first time ever.

I sent Christmas cards for the first time ever this year.

Every year I think about doing it, usually briefly, and then dismiss the idea. I mean, it’s one of those things adults should probably do. Like buying a Swiffer and making unprompted dentist appointments. But sending Christmas cards always seemed like too much effort.

You have to buy the cards. The perfect cards. You have to sign the cards. With the perfect greeting. You have to gather everyone’s addresses. And not forget anyone. And then put all of those addresses on envelopes. And you have to figure out how one mails things. Because I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I mailed something.

The idea of sending Christmas cards was just exhausting.


And, I’m not going to lie, I didn’t even like getting Christmas cards.

It’s not that I didn’t like the cards, or appreciate them, they were just not something I cared about getting. I’d open the envelopes, take a few seconds to look at the card, read the message, and then they’d end up in a pile that I’d rarely look at again, destined for the trash. Or (sorry everyone) just go straight into the trash.

And so why would I waste my time sending something to others that I didn’t even enjoy getting for myself?

And then…I got cats.

And when I got cats I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be funny to send photo Christmas cards with my cats on them? You know, like those ones my friends with actual babies are always sending? (BTW, those cards never went straight in the trash. I mean, I’m not a monster.)

And so I decided that, this year, I was going to send cat photo Christmas cards because what else shows your friends the joy of Christmas more than seeing how deep into cat lady-dom their single friend has fallen by sending photos of her cats in the mail?

Nothing.

I sent Christmas cards for the first time ever. | Have a Very Meowy Christmas cat photo Christmas cards from Walgreens.

So I bought cat Christmas costumes and took approximately one million photos to get one good photo of my cats wearing said costumes. And then I ordered photo cards from Walgreens that were available to pick up in less than an hour. And I reached out to my friends to gather addresses and put a call out on Facebook and Instagram to gather more. And I went to the craft store to buy markers and stickers. And I signed 44 cards. And I addressed 44 envelopes (OK more like 50 because sometimes I can’t spell). And I spent like 10 days in line at the post office to buy stamps.

And then I put 44 Christmas cards addressed to people in 34 cities and towns in 15 states and 5 countries around the world into the mailbox.

I was really excited to send out those cards. I was happy to share my love of my babies with the world and hoped the ridiculousness of my cards would make my friends laugh. But something else happened along the way: I got really excited to get Christmas cards in return.

Normally I only check my mailbox once or twice a week but I found myself checking every time I walked by, sometimes two or three times a day (even though I knew my mailman only came once, around 5pm). There was joy in that anticipation. There was joy in that reciprocation. There was joy in getting something delivered to me that wasn’t a credit card offer.

And when I did get a card I would open it right away and instead of them going into a pile or a trash can I’ve been hanging all the cards up using the clips from my travel photo wall.


I sent Christmas cards for the first time ever. | Have a Very Meowy Christmas cat photo Christmas cards from Walgreens.

So I guess sometimes you have to do something yourself in order to realize its significance to others. And I guess sometimes you have to do something yourself in order to change your mindset.

And I guess you should always send Christmas cards with your cats on them.

Because, obviously.

I sent Christmas cards for the first time ever. | Have a Very Meowy Christmas cat photo Christmas cards from Walgreens.

Ford wanted to sign all the cards himself.

I sent Christmas cards for the first time ever. | Have a Very Meowy Christmas cat photo Christmas cards from Walgreens.

I sent Christmas cards for the first time ever. | Have a Very Meowy Christmas cat photo Christmas cards from Walgreens.

A stack of 44 Christmas cards going to 34 cities/towns in 15 states and 5 countries.

 

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Hi, I'm Val. I spent most of my 20s in a standstill, unable to pick which path in life I wanted to take. I wanted the nomadic life of a traveler but also wanted the husband, the condo, and the kitten. Unable to decide which life I wanted more, I did nothing. When I turned 30 I’d had enough of putting my life on hold and decided to start “choosing my figs.” So, I quit my job, bought a one-way ticket to Europe, and traveled for three years. Now I'm back in Chicago, decorating my apartment in all the teal, petting my cats, and planning my next adventure.

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2 Comments
  • Ali
    December 20, 2018at6:13 am

    BTW I have another friend who also sends out Christmas cards with her cat on them. She does the collage type cards, so it’s loads of photos of her, her and her friends, her and her parents and brother, her and her cat. I once sent out Christmas cards with photos of me traveling in different places. Why not share what your life looks like! There’s no reason to not do it just because yours aren’t the stereotypical ones with the happy couple and the baby and whatnot. If Snapfish DE had cards, I’d totally do one. I LOVED getting your card with your adorable cats!

  • Ella
    November 25, 2020at4:46 am

    There was joy in that anticipation. There was joy in that reciprocation. I once sent out Christmas cards with photos of me traveling in different places. Why not share what your life looks like. I guess sometimes you have to do something yourself in order to change your mindset.

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