Merry Christmas, I'm divorced

Since there are some people on my Christmas card list who don't know I've moved, I decided to start mailing cards early this year. The idea sounds easy enough until I sat down to write them. Then I had to figure out what to say.

Merry Christmas, I'm divorced didn't seem like the right sentiment. But what is?

I'm not sure there is a right answer. Some of the people who don't know yet  are relatives I don't see very often. A few are friends in Europe I only trade messages with at holiday time. And others are clients and professional colleagues. Since Hallmark hasn't come up with the Merry Christmas, I'm divorced card yet I had to come up with my own words.

I know cards are a little old fashioned. An e-card just doesn't do it for me. They're too fast to open, skim through and delete. I still like to send a printed card with my handwriting on it that goes through the US Postal Service, Some people still display cards around the house during the season. Even the envelopes are hand addressed. So I started with a"New address!" little message to start off the return address. I hope people notice before they rip the envelope off and throw it away.

Some will have to figure it out since I signed my name solo. Single rather than couple. If they pay attention, they'll notice. For my better friends, I write a note in the card with a few highlights of the year and questions about their families rather than the painful Christmas letters about little Lulu getting to ride a pony and Hunter's broken arm. I wrote these people a simple statement that I've started a new life as a single girl in the big city. Some will be curious and want to know more. Some will judge and give up on me. But that's all I'm willing to share in a Christmas card.

This has also been a great reminder I need to stay in better touch with people throughout the year.

Love to the single girls,
Addison