Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but there's nothing I find more heartwarming at this time of year than being wished Merry Christmas in a mass email.
Nothing says best wishes of the holiday season quite like a PR flack or company executive pounding out a heartfelt message, or attaching some piece of cheesy stock art, and then sending it to absolutely everyone in the ol' electronic address book. To know they took the self-serving step of adding my address to their email inventory at some point over the last few years is truly touching.
I know some people might find it offensive to receive a one-size-fits-all greeting, but I'm really touched when those doing the sending take the time out of their busy schedules to personalize it with the salutation.
I can't tell you how warm and fuzzy I feel inside, and how it makes the words that follow so much more meaningful, when there's a "Dear Editor" at the outset. It's just like two old friends catching up after a year apart.
I fully recognize times are still tough out there so the practice of buying and mailing impersonal Christmas cards has fallen victim to purse-tightening measures for most organizations and individuals. The ability to send a greeting electronically, thus avoiding the cost and hassle of addressing what in some cases might be hundreds of cards, is not only good for the bottom line, but it frees up time to connect with real friends, like those you find on Facebook.
I realize it's the way the world is going, but I still find there's something missing. There was always something magical about how those bulk Christmas cards managed to linger on the desk or somewhere else in the office, that somehow it seemed wrong to prematurely put them in their ultimate resting place: the recycling bin.
You can't say the same thing for an electronic greeting. I'm definitely not going to print one out, and it's not like I'm going back to the inbox for another look, so I've come to the conclusion the only other course of action is to lean on the delete button. I can see how that might appear a tad ungrateful, but I comfort myself knowing the sender put about the same amount of thought into the exchange.
At this point I know it might seem a little disingenuous for me to wish you a Merry Christmas, but in my defence I should point out this greeting is intended only for you. After all, I had this newspaper delivered directly to your door.
And that, you must admit, beats an e-greeting any day.
