Holiday Card

This is our holiday card for 2005.  It's the first time we've ever made a photo into a card, and we did it to show off our new dog.  Strange that we never did this when we were raising our daughter(!).

And when that first struck me, I realized that that was the time - when our daughter was young - when we received these kinds of cards from friends, all showing young families.  I've never seen a card featuring people in late middle-age or older.

When I realized this, I knew why I'd been oddly hesitant about making and sending this card.  I'd thought it was because my husband and I are both a bit shy, or that our dog Cody, in all his natural beauty, makes us look stiff and dowdy in comparison. But it was really that I'd unwittingly internalized the pervasive youth-bias that even extends to our holiday greetings.

Ronni Bennett and her commenters over at Time Goes By know the rewards of working one's way through age-related tentativeness at the mirror or in photo's.  It's new to me, though, and I'm finding that when you give others the picture of your late middle-age, you're giving yourself a gift, too.  You're saying something like, "Hey, look at me, I've made it to 62!  I'm lucky and thankful, so here 'tis.  Enjoy."                  

Comments

[Tom Cunliffe]

That is a wonderful photograph! What a fantastic dog! I wish you all the very best to you and yours for 2006.

[Ms. Feverish]

Merry Christmas--Good to see you both looking so well! And my goodness isn't Cody adorable! Makes me think I should've made a holiday card this year with my cats. :)

Something related I've observed--young people without spouses or children (such as myself) rarely send those photo cards either, as if simply because we aren't blessed in those ways we shouldn't/don't have any image worth sharing. So it's not only age, but perhaps time of life that dictates whether we have anything socially appropriate to "share" with others in that way.

[Bob]

Nice Pic ML. You and Mr. Win are very well preserved. It must be that all the healthy living is paying off. Nice looking dog. Kind of reminds me of a curious and perhaps smaller Barky.

[Terri]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder....thanks for sharing such a great photo of the three of you! Age is simply a number but joy is apparent on all of you.
Stopping by to wish you a very Happy New Year. All the best to you in 2006. I really enjoy your blog, so keep blogging in the new year.
P.S....Cody is way too cute for words. What a great looking doggie.

[Tabor]

Happy New Year! Sorry, but Cody does shine! It's are great photo.

[Ronni Bennett]

Nice holiday card! Not stiff or dowdy at all, and Cody's a cutie. Great ears.

Sending wishes for a spectacular New Year, ML, and looking forward to being a (relatively) near neighbor soon.

[Cowtown Pattie]

A wonderful family photo. The warm backlit family room behind you, the cozy threesome on the steps makes for a very inviting, personal note. Just right with the gorgeous Mr. Cody included. I can almost feel the silkiness of those precious doggie ears!

Confession: I am a dog kisser. And I don't plan to change anytime soon.

[Nancy Smith]

Lovely, lovely , lovely! I may do this next year..What happy looking people you are.......

[Amy]

A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I really like this card! We haven't sent Christmas cards in years. I'll probably have the time and inclination again when there's just a sweet fluffy dog sharing our space and the kids are off with their own blogs. :)

[Lisa]

Good for you for going in the face of this culture that prizes youth so overly highly. I love what this card represents. In the faces of your quaint little family here, I see so many things: perseverance, commitment, vitality, and so many other things. What a beautiful photo to share with the people you love. Thanks for sharing it with us, too.