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2010, 2011 8. 2012 Readers Choice Award Winner I flMWtWI m.m-“m-mnm.m as the practice of send - ing Christmas cards fallen out of fashion? Has this tradition. like so many time- honoured customs. sumndered to more contemporary methods of communication? We're certain it has. not entirely. but partially. “s Via-IS are numbemd. Dams? So how many fes- tive messages have you sent this mnnth? How many festive mes- gages have you received? Less than lam year] suspect. And likely'fewer than the year before. It's sad. - Faithfuuy. every afternoon. I pay a visit to (Kinda Post box No. 6 on Rupert Avenue. fully antici- pating bundles of well-wishes so large a strong band of string Will be required to keep them intact. But unfortunately there's nothing. at least next to nothing v "“"""U' Most ands [hit have filtewd Wmaddmdtowifelean oraMr.preamb|eisaddedmerely ioeasetheaenders’comcience. WWMJSJmayhavc todependon nuke-updelivefies ‘ w" w Stouffville '- mt m; min-MI A ; m m OW m mu m a mu {Mn Is. “10?qu err" \m'qa mum of m m '3 '8‘" 3:1? I! b» “N W U! mm M! an 1 15‘. any % mum“ m- =9 “(1' wow: « 'u-ummx'n 1' C‘ fll M' W m "I uni-"fin W «what: “U! hyx'vllw vmnow- NRA AN‘ 0 N a Still waiting for a few of these Christmas cards 3.1!. mm MUM/MAW” Hvunom mm x past NewYear's. You know the kind. They read something like: this is late but I've been so busy. etc. etc.” How does this make the receiver feel? About as appreciated as a Christmas tree on Boxing Day! for me. when reflecting on the origin of the mmmnn Christmas card and its probable departure. there's a balance equal to fund fart-- wells to my faithful linderwmid typewriter. dependable Graphic camera and shabby (ICM skates: Didyou know, (ordoyou care). that the custom of Christ- with Iim Thomas mall-am U7- nus NS? mas ands was slam-d in the Univ ed Kingdom in {843 by Sir Henry designed by lohn Horsley. an artist and friend of Sir “only? [)0 yuu lupuw. (or care). that the first batch of Christmas cards sold for one shilling each or eight (rms' on today's market? Do you know. {Or cam). that Christmas cards first appeared in North around 1840? [)0 you knmv. (or do you cam). that the first Christmas» card was Masons for the (linstmas can! cessatka are many and varied. Undoubtedly leading the list is (he obsessive use of email. Nm only is this method fasten ifs also dmper. In an instant. messages leach their intended receivers; And the cost '5 minimal if typing crmrs aren’t imponam. " On the negative side. the prac- tice is Less petumai but (his. I sug- gest. is no longer a factor since we live in so impetuma] a world. [)0 you recall. as many Will. when the price of a stamp was but mmecemsâ€"twoccmsifme envelope was left ulmled. Today. it's 63 cents. plus tax. With no deductions. little wonder mum OPINION mmmcmzs: ‘. 'Ar mumumnmumrsu-m Canada P05! is cuntinually fumed to raise rates. a trend that could eventually leadto its ' Hchvcr, posted Christmas cards have a positive side. 'Ihey can include notes. letters or pho- tos, small but imponam surprises for many recipients. They may also originate from persons one hasn't Seen or heard from in years 'lhese people‘ane special. However. these intimidating if the send- as signs only first mmes For me. after four some years and four they oouki be from anyone (mm any- 0f the few personal cards we!- comed 90hr. twoaresignifimm. The first, in larder of political pmmmmmodwdfiommu prime minister. Stephen Harper. wife Lawn. son Benjamin and dawner Rachel. This marks my secondyeaxonthe PM’sgalag-eet- mgimemorydleveloiacoeptance [appreciate While the jingle Happy lWayanmnmxmilydutwmcfm abanleme todisoaverMerrmesunaspflm- ed inside. AI! is brg'ven But the tanmmhxslknmeme'mfiday' dogaerrbalorsa'ipted. The has a homey ‘Give the Gift of Fitness." . 4i flavour in that laum’n i» seen embracing a tiny chmchilla. obvi- ously a tumelmM pet While the Opposition. quick t0 crit- may View this as a sign of animal malice. better I say she be holding the fuuy little mttet than mmtgitamwtdtwrnui. The second. again in order of political prominence. is a beautiful card from Oak Markham Member of Parliament Paul (lalandra. And true to his comment made at the conclusion of last year's ltbOViC Centre for Arts and Entertainment â€" Nine- MWSamm-mo mmummumm teen on the Park concert when be emphasized the two reason for the season. he wrote: "I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”. No please-all politics here. With days in short supply. I'm still anticipating seasonal saluta- tions from man (Tunis-an). Wdyne (Emmerson) and Prince Will and Pt 'unxsa Kate. And I'm willing to wait.