One of the first Christmas cards I received this year was from Mary, my roommate from college.
Mary and I met going into our junior year at Seattle University. We’d both signed up to be Junior Advisors at Marycrest Hall, the freshman girls’ dorm. (And yes, we were “girls” in those days not “women.” And no, in the early 1960s, none of the dorms were co-ed.)
Being a Junior Advisor was a cushy job. We got a fifty percent discount on board and room and a large corner room in exchange for acting like big sisters to the girls on our floor. Our only other duties involved organizing and conducting meetings to plan floor parties and one important meeting early on to explain the rules: No boys on the floor. No hotplates. No radios or loud noises after 11 pm. And no alcohol. We didn’t mention drugs. Contrary to current belief, drug use was almost unheard of in the early Sixties. The late Sixties were a different story.
with college apartment mates, Gail, Madelyn, Annie and Mary
The following year Mary and I teamed up with Madeline, Annie and Gail and rented a three-bedroom apartment on Summit Avenue. Under our new living arrangement, we dispensed with the rules, but we did have a duty schedule that specified who was in charge each week of cooking, washing dishes, and cleaning the apartment.
Lacking rules forbidding the presence of boys and alcohol, my future husband, Eugene, always spent some time talking with my roommates when he picked me up for a date. He’d arrive early with a gallon of Christian Brothers sauterne and a supply of stories to keep them entertained while I finished dressing and combing my hair.
graduation dinner, 1965, Mary, me, Gail and Annie
All these memories of our college days were sparked by the surprises Mary tucked into her Christmas card: four photos she’d removed from her album. A thoughtful gift indeed!
Seattle University graduation, 1965
Sending Christmas cards is a wonderful custom, but one that seems to be fading in popularity. The cards and postage are expensive, and addressing them and writing messages are time consuming. Besides, you can always keep up with old friends on Facebook.
Still, nothing beats finding a colorful card from an old friend amongst the ads and bills the mailman leaves in your mailbox. Don’t you think so?
I agree Nicki! Wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing about that part of your life.
You always send such a lovely card, Jeffrey. I know I’m not forgotten.
What a lovely thing to do and it definitely brought up lots of wonderful thoughts from the past. When I first moved to Taiwan, I would develop 2 pictures for each card and send them along in the mail with the Christmas card. It was a great way to keep in touch with my family and friends in Canada. Now, however, I rely more on the internet to share pictures and send greetings.
We used to send a lot of photos back and forth, too. Then I’d paste them in albums. I haven’t been as conscientious about making digital albums. It’s definitely easier. But I need to get a better system going.
What a fun surprise! I’m still in touch with several of my college roommates, but it’s been a few years since we got together back on campus. Looking at old photos does prompt our memory banks to open wide and say . . . aah!
The last time I got together with Mary, it was a big birthday last year for her and her triplet sisters, and they included me in their lunch gathering. I had never met her sisters before, so it was a real treat.
I still send cards and delight in receiving them. I don’t even mind an enclosed Christmas letter if done well. Especially the funny ones.
I’m in love with the whole idea of reaching out to family member and old friends — via a few sincere words scrawled inside a personally chosen Christmas card. Although, admittedly, that’s no longer the “custom” and some might consider me a romantic old fool, I’m in love with the season itself and what it represents. A softening of the heart, a reaching out to others in a meaningful way. All by way of saying, “Get that baby out of that barn!”
You said it just right, Gretchen.
Agreed 100% and nice seeing Eugene’s photo – now we know where he disappeared to.
I’m glad you enjoyed the photo, Howard. Best wishes to you and your family.
This year I was thinking of cutting back again on the cards. As people stop sending them, I stop too. The problem is that some of the people who stop aren’t on facebook and there is no other way to stay connected. Over the years I have lost touch with some people I really liked that way. They moved or I moved. Cards for a while, then nothing. Getting a card with memories is the best gift ever!
Like you, Kate, I’ve lost touch with people I really liked. When someone sends a card or a note, even once a year, it keeps the relationship alive.
Yes, it is worth the effort.
I agree, Nicki. When a person takes the time to write that note, I feel appreciated. Christmas cards like letter writing is becoming a lost art: younger and future generations don’t even know they are missing out on something personal and heartwarming.
I don’t know if any of the letters I’ve written could be considered art, but I used to write a letter every week to my family when we lived abroad. Now I never write letters or even long emails. I just call.
This is so thoughtful of Mary! I agree that a card is such a lovely surprise now that we almost never receive anything but ads and statements in our mailboxes. There is something very special with a handwritten letter or card. Mary’s card, I’m sure, made you very happy. The photos are so cool, especially for me since I’m younger and grew up in France where my campus dorm had very little to do with the American ones. I love to learn about the way life was because we learn from history. All of you looked so hopeful for your future on these photos. Merry Christmas, Nicki.
I’d love to hear someday about your campus dorms in France. It’s interesting that you say we looked so hopeful. I hadn’t thought of that. I wonder how many of our expectations came to pass. Unfortunately I haven’t kept in touch with the other roommates. Two of them were planning to be teachers; the other was going to be a doctor.
Nicki, yours is always the first card we receive. I envy your organization.
I had to send my cards early this year, Barb, so I could get ready for my trip to Indiana–our destination for the holidays this year.
I totally agree, Nicki! Thanks for sharing those photos! I received some cards from old friends too.
There are many ways to keep in touch with old friends. Sending Christmas cards is one nice way.