It arrived yesterday in our mailbox - the annual Christmas letter from this fellow we know. Each year he puts in detail what he has bought and in great detail. Last year's letter was all the stuff he bought for his house and where he traveled and how much he spent. Forgive me, but who needs tumbled marble tiles in his crawl space?
This year's brag was 3 ties for $625. Apparently they are like the ties Donald Trump wears.
Apparently this person has money to spend like this, but I personally would prefer to be ignorant of it.
His whole letter is about him, what he did, and what he spent. It's sad in a way that he has to brag each year what he did and bought.
I used to feel sorry for him, but I've since decided he likes living the way he does because he can buy whatever he wants. He fills his loneliness with things and then presses us with the details.
I would rather find satisfaction in what I have and the people who love me.
Needless to say, I won't be sending an annual Christmas letter to anyone.
The Annual Christmas Letter, orThe Written Bragfest
December 10th, 2010 at 01:53 am
December 10th, 2010 at 02:57 am 1291949868
Honestly, I wouldn't assume he even has the money to spend.
On a local forum I belong to, many people show all their pictures of everything they bought Christmas day and every new car they buy. Okay, so the car is a big purchase, and all your friends and neighbors will see and ooh and aaah. I suppose it isn't quite as tacky to share with your online friends. But I always think the "Look at everything I bought for Christmas" posts are very tacky.
Needless to say, I will never be posting pictures of my stuff to ooooh and aaaaaaah over.
December 10th, 2010 at 02:59 am 1291949964
December 10th, 2010 at 03:22 am 1291951354
December 10th, 2010 at 05:17 am 1291958220
Apologies, for venting.
December 10th, 2010 at 05:43 am 1291959793
If it were me, I'd probably write one back on my own terms, and (I don't know about you, but mine?) it would go something like this:
'DF bought three ties from an op-shop for 50c each. We made $XXXXX.XX extra payments on our mortgage this year. I get especially excited when our favourite organic brand of espresso ground coffee goes on sale for less than $7 a pack. We had takeaway one night three weeks ago, it cost $20.50. We hire dvd's sometimes - on cheap Tuesday. They're $1 each. Sometimes we go a little crazy and hire them on Sundays, when they're $2 a night... but there's a bit more choice!'
Why not write him a letter about the things that are important to YOU? heh heh...
December 10th, 2010 at 03:38 pm 1291995530
Maybe, (Ha Ha) you should send a letter just out to this guy and say that your family was really blessed this year and won a ??$ lottery and that you just bought this fabulous house, 4 new cars, and all of the vacations you've just gone to, etc. Then, say, oh by the way this was supposed to be my April fool's day joke but thought that all would love a good surprise. I actually have a close relative that does this even though they really aren't rich and their kids are just the same. No one wants to be around them. They live rich but don't know they're not rich. Not that you would do this but isn't it tempting to send a letter like that?
December 10th, 2010 at 05:00 pm 1292000413
December 10th, 2010 at 07:30 pm 1292009414
December 11th, 2010 at 01:28 am 1292030903
I teased my husband that I wanted to write a rebuttal and he said "Don't you dare!"
We are now going to another church and I hate to say this, it is a relief not to see this fellow each week. He was calling us as well. We dreaded it when the phone rang. He has no desire to change -- he wants to spend his money on himself. Period. And be the center of attention, I guess.
December 19th, 2010 at 05:04 am 1292735054
I DO enjoy letters or notes from family and friends about their activities and events of the past year.