So many of you have warmed our hearts and graced our home with your beautiful Christmas cards, family photos, personal notes and newsletters over the past couple of weeks I confess I have been enjoying them with a dollop of guilt.
It has been a tough year for Carolann and me financially and nothing stresses the heart and soul more than worrying about how to buy food, juggle the bills and remain employed with some degree of security.
And, most importantly, to always wear the infectious, beaming, loving smile our loved ones richly deserve.
I don’t want to belabor the subject or start whining. Good grief, I have riches a kingdom couldn’t buy: good health, honest love, and many hearts happy to see me waddling down a sidewalk or hallway in approach with my Popeye-squinty smile.
Carolann, of course, lights every room and heart she enters, and she bursts into them all.
So, I hope it’s a small comfort to you to know that we are digging deep to get ourselves out of relatively modest debts with our modest incomes.
I’m not quite “pushing sixty” yet but I am pulling fifty and we want to retire eventually. We’re trimming our sails, even to the point of cutting out 44-cents stamps.
This is your Christmas card.
We hope you’re not offended that you can’t hold it in your hand or tape it over your fireplace.
We love buying, wrapping and giving gifts and cards as much as anybody. But, for now we hope you’ll read this and know it serves as a personal prayer from Carolann and me to each of you:
Bless you and yours. And please know that you have all our love for these sacred holidays and the new year to come.
God bless us, every one!
Dave and Carolann
© Copyright 2009, Dave Williams. All rights reserved.
Dave and Carolann,
The best Christmas card I ever received. Thank you both. The best in 2010 for you two.
Tom
I’ll take it. No further gift-wrap necessary.
Anita
Oops – that’s me above.
Dearest David and Carolann;
What a lovely card. Thank you for being my loved ones not only at Christmas, but all year long. Love, Auntie
I’m honored to have received this card! You are an artist with words. A sincere Merry Christmas to you and your entire family. 🙂
Blog greetings are so 2010…Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you both! Love, The Naughtons
P.S. Our cards killed two birds with one stone (belated baby announcement+holiday greeting), so we too saved on postage this year. 🙂
We feel blessed that you’ll be with us on Christmas; exchanging cards is a formality. We love you all and can’t wait to share the holiday with you!
Have a Merry ‘Ol Christmas and a wonderful New year. We love you all.
Jim, Diane, and ‘Lil Jenna too!
Best Christmas message I’ve received. I truly count you, Dave – along with Carolann – as my dearest friend(s).
My wish for you all is to have the merriest of Christmases and the very happiest of New Years!
Thank you so very much for including me. You guys have become very dear friends to me these past couple of years, even though we haven’t actually met in person. We have gone through similar circumstances, and yet we are still surviving. Struggling yes, but we are surviving. You both are very dear friends to me, and I do hope that one day we can meet. Best Wishes for a safe and Happy Holiday season! God Bless you both!!
Merry Christmas David and Carolann ,Thank you for the lovely card. I too am in the same boat, and did not realize what was tugging on my heart until I read your letter this morning. Wow i’m not alone.Thank you for sharing your feeling with us. May your Christmas be blessed with joy,love,and laughter. Happy Holidays Love Trish
Wonderful card, Dave and Carolann! I am honored to be included on your list. Hope to run into you this year at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee-Fesival-Jubi-Fest or whatever they’re calling it this year.
Dave–you write so well! Your”voice” comes through clearly–I can almost literally hear it. Perhaps your writing will become your new profession?! Fond memories of the young actor in the elevator play as well as Stalag 17 cast, Shirlee