Christmas Cards Past: The Real Story...

For many years, I created my own Christmas cards. This started in 1977 and continued pretty much uninterrupted until a year or so ago when I burned out on the whole concept. For a long time, from about 1985-2001, those cards centered around my cats, Stan and Ollie. Stan went away in 1998; Ollie in 2002, and about that time, having lost the muses, it became more of a chore to actually do the cards than something I looked forward to. I think I did cards in 2003, skipped 2004, did a postcard in 2005 and none this year. For some reason, I just didn't have it in me this year, although don't be surprised if one doesn't show up here online, maybe even in some downloadable form, before December 25th rolls around. I don't know if I'll ever do printed cards again...I can't seem to get the energy together to put them in envelopes, address and stamp them all and mail them out. Sad, innit?

Over the next week or so, I'll be "treating" you (this term is subject to your own thoughts on the matter) to some of the cards I created over the years, starting with this one at left, from 2000. It's what I call the "Ollie with his Doctor Who scarf" one. After I moved from snowy Pittsburgh in December of 1998 to sunny San Diego, cards with snow on them came to feel kind of false, although I still have a hard time separating my feelings of Christmas from snow and cold temperatures. "Winter Wonderland" and all that, I suppose. For those of you who wrote and asked or left comments about the earlier card I already posted, "Remember Christmas When You Were A Kid," yes, I did draw them all. I used to do that, once upon a time. Sad, innit?

Whatever...I hope these cards make you smile a little.