Christmas Letter Rituals

Last year I never sent out Christmas cards (which I always include a letter). So this year, I'm trying to think what to say about last year's absence. What do you think? Am I making up enough excuses?

Christmas is here again. Last year, I never got out a Christmas letter. I had all the best intentions to do it on New Year’s Day, but I found myself then heading to New Orleans on a relief trip, riding the rails on the “City of New Orleans” with college students. Valentine’s Day came around next, but I didn’t want one of my friends to think I was copying her family’s tradition. I thought about April Fool’s Day, but I didn’t want to enhance any of your beliefs about me being a fool. Next up was Easter, but at least two of my friends send out Easter letters, and I didn't want to start a movement. Then I thought about sending it on the 4th of July, but since I wasn’t going to wax on about patriotism, felt I might belittle the holiday. Next up, was Labor Day, but it just didn’t seem right to write on a day reserved for rest. I could have done it on Halloween, but I was afraid someone might think I was being Satanic. I could have done it on Reformation day which is the same as Halloween, but most of you probably didn’t know that, nor do you care. And I could have written the letter on Nevada day, which is also the same as Halloween, but none of you ‘cept my Nevada friends know that, and even they probably don't care. Then there was Thanksgiving, and I’m really am thankful for you all, but it slipped up on me too quick, which means I’ve now covered a year and never got around to writing last year’s letter. As Sam Jones, the old southern revivalist of the 19th Century supposedly first coined, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Yep, he was a Methodist. You can tell, he emphasized work. And he probably never forget to send out a Christmas letter.