Keep Those Christmas Letters Coming
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The Phyllis Humphrey article on Christmas letters (“To Whom It May Concern: Blah Blah,” Voices, Dec. 18) does not speak for everyone. I have kept many of the Christmas letters I have received over the past 10 years because they are an ongoing diary of my friends and family.
It takes a lot of time to compose a letter, and maybe there is bragging in the letter, but at least it is an attempt to keep in touch more than a signed Christmas card.
Ella Honeycutt
Arroyo Grande
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Humphrey may not like to receive printed letters from friends at this time of year, but I do! I like hearing from my friends, far and near. I don’t expect them to write individual letters, saying the same thing to all their friends. I welcome the printed letter. What I don’t like is a pretty card with only a name signed or printed -- no message at all. I want more. And I like fruitcakes too.
Wena Dows
Culver City
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So I am guilty this year, as well as in past years, of writing a Christmas letter. Despite what Humphrey claims, Christmas letters do have a purpose. They are the best way of letting everyone know that I am still alive. Besides, the biggest advantage of receiving Christmas letters is that you can treat them like trash mail and not read them.
Jim Purrington
Fullerton
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Humphrey may not like receiving Christmas letters, but she goes too far when she states, “Actually, nobody likes these things.” About 13 years ago, my husband was asked to write a one-page personal biography for his college reunion alumni book. He found that he not only enjoyed writing the bio, but he enjoyed reading about what all of his college chums had been doing for the past 35 years. At the reunion, the bios made for lively talk.
That Christmas, my husband decided to do a Christmas letter. Much to my surprise, we were flooded with return Christmas letters. The best thing about receiving Christmas letters, however, is not reading them but the feeling of closeness you get to people you don’t often see.
Joanne Law
Chatsworth
