img_2248Yes, it’s that time of year: That time when the Christmas cards come down off my little wall-holder wreath and get filed away for the year. But I always take one more (long) look at each one – rereading each, as it were (because maybe a 9-year-old was tugging on my jacket the first time I tried to read it as we walked back from the mailbox). And each year (at least in my head) I give out annual awards.

 

So here we go. May I have the envelope please?

 

This year’s award for First Card Out goes to Bookclub Barbara (I’ll use first names only). Barbara, I believe, has won this honor more than one year — she’s always on top of things. (Unlike me, who is running to the post office on Christmas Eve, dropping envelopes in the rain, locking my stamps in the car. …) She always sends a beautiful and thoughtful (never rain-soaked) card.

 

This year’s award for Most Adorable Photo … ooh, this is hard because so many were so cute, but I’d have to give this one to Aunt Betty. Her photo of her two “reindeer” (her dogs, looking not-necessarily-too-pleased with the color of antlers on their heads) was too funny. I shared it with my kids right away. And any card that gets a thumbs up from a 9-year-old, a 12-year-old and a 15-year-old equally has got to be a great card!

 

This year’s award for Children Growing Up Way Too Fast While I’m Not Looking goes to … hmmm … this one’s hard, too, because there were so many. Register Grace has three darling kids who get cuter every day, but who seem to be growing at light speed. (Could that really be her “baby” there? The one who’s walking and looking close to preschool age?) Valencia Dawn has a little one who I remember being born just yesterday, but now she appears to be in kindergarten. And Valencia Michelle’s daughter is (… holy cow, could we be that old?) seemingly in college already. … Okay, deep breath … And my handsome godson Nick and his beautiful sister Rebecca are much too grown up for me to be able to contemplate right now.

 

This year’s award for Card of the 21st Century goes to UCLA Deb. She sent the coolest online “scrapbook” card I ever did see. I must find out how she did that …

 

The Gorgeous Photography Award goes to Valencia Libby. (She wins this award almost every year.) Her photography of her daughter and family are always stunning, often in black-and-white, and always printed on the most gorgeous paper. Art at its finest.

 

The Lifetime Achievement Award goes to … well, this must go to my mom. She always sends out cards. Always on time. And she thinks so carefully about each recipient – she doesn’t just willy-nilly put cards out, but carefully contemplates each year’s selection, who it best suits, and how to send them out most beautifully. (And she always writes something personal – to each and every one of her probably 80 card recipients!) Most of her cards are artistic renditions of Santa Claus. She sent different ones to my kids, then to me and my husband (always thought out, just like I said!). Many of her cards from the past I’ve saved and put in 5×7 frames for the following year’s décor. She really typifies the true spirit of holiday greetings – done with extreme thought and care.

 

So that’s it for this year’s Acardemy Awards! Thank you all for coming. Please exit the theater safely and have a safe drive home. …