<p>We get one or two great ones each year that I really do look forward to reading, but I don’t send them myself. I just think it would be too difficult for me to send a mass produced letter appropriate to everyone who would be receiving it. People who are close to me already know my news (and talking about the highlights of our respective kids’ activities and accomplishments is actively encouraged between us!) but for those I don’t talk to as frequently, I guess I’d rather catch up with an interactive phone call and be in a better position to judge what may or may not be appropriate to share. For example, I’m not going to want to talk about my travels with someone whose H has just been laid off from work and I’m not going to go on and on about my kids with friends who never had any of their own - unless they ask. And in some cases, I’d rather focus on the other person altogether. I just don’t think these letters can be all things to all people and that as such they sometimes miss fulfilling their intended purpose. </p>
<p>I do love getting updated family photos this time of year, and agree that the preprinted cards are too impersonal. </p>
<p>[Beware</a> the incredible expanding holiday letter - Los Angeles Times](<a href=“http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/21/nation/na-letters21]Beware”>Beware the incredible expanding holiday letter)</p>