Christmas Photo Cards that Celebrate the Joy of Living
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010I have been getting Christmas photo cards for years from friends and relatives with small children. Most of my friends have kids and it is lovely to have the holiday cards hanging every year. When you enter my house the first thing you see is the closet door straight ahead and this is where I hang all my holiday photo cards surrounded by the regular Christmas cards. This year is a little different because in pride of place at the center is a picture of my friend Sara and her husband, Bob, even though it is a long time since they were children. It seems a little strange to some people that adults would send a picture of themselves, until you look closely at the picture. That’s when I tell them the story.
Sara is past 50 and I won’t go any further than that; of course if you ask her age she will tell you, but that’s her choice not mine. Anyway, Sara has worked in a doctor’s office as a receptionist for the past 30 years. Every year I would ask her where she is taking her vacation, and every year she said her and Bob may go to China, but instead they’d go to Ship Bottom, a small town on the Jersey shore. They certainly enjoy themselves, but their dream vacation had been to go to China and see the Great Wall. When they saw the pictures from space that showed the Great Wall of China, they started planning. It seemed something always came up: they had children, the children needed education, the furnace needed to be replaced, etc. And so the vacation was always delayed. When they sent out their photo Christmas cards, the note inside would always say “Maybe we’ll see China next year.” Well the kids were finally grown and last year they made the trek, and after 30 years, they were able to stand on the Great Wall of China. A dream realized is always something that should be shared.
My favorite photo Christmas cards are no longer going to be of cute children or adorable puppies, but of two aging friends who have finally lived their dream. Sara and Bob grinning from ear to ear on the Great Wall of China shows that holiday photo cards can celebrate the joy of living…something you can feel at any age. This year Sara and Bob are going on a safari and I can’t wait to see what their photo will be on their Christmas cards.













