Well, it’s almost that time of year again. Time for a family photo. Time to update our address lists. Time to summarize anything and everything that’s changed in our lives this year. Time to fool ourselves into thinking someone might actually read it.

Yes, you guessed it; it’s time to send out holiday greeting cards.

I remember when Jolene and I were first married. We couldn’t wait to send out Christmas cards with an update letter. The same was true after each of our three children were born. But after 20-plus years of doing this, it has become a chore.

This realization came about for me after visiting with our editor, Tammy Pearson, about a series of upcoming stories we have planned for our Iowa Living magazines about Christmas cards. We wondered if this holiday practice is as popular as it once was? If people are still typing up letters or hand-writing cards? And if they are still taking out a small loan to pay for the postage?

I used to look forward to this time-honored tradition, especially reading about what was new in the lives of friends or family members whom we don’t touch base with regularly. But, if I am being honest, I don’t think I looked through all the cards and letters in recent years. And if the letter took multiple pages, well, forget it.

Then, something changed. In the past few years, we haven’t received as many. In conversations with others, I learned that a growing number of folks are relying on social media sites for this purpose. Or they gave up in general. Or, maybe, they just took me off their list.

Admittedly, moving three times in three years put a wrench in the process. So if you sent me a card and it was returned, that’s why. No worries, though. If you really want to send me money, you can Venmo it.

Truth be told, we skipped the entire Christmas card tradition a few years back. We had a hectic few months leading up to the holidays, and we just didn’t get it done. Guess what? Life went on as normal. But, as you might guess, we returned to the task the following year.

So, here we are, less than six weeks from Christmas, and the pressure is on. We will gather a photo from a recent family get-together. We will update the list of addresses. We will summarize anything and everything that has changed in our lives in the last year. And we will fool ourselves into thinking someone might actually read it.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman 

President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

View Shane Goodman's archived columns from past issues here.

The polls have closed and a record number of readers have cast their votes in the latest CITYVIEW'S Best Of Des Moines readers' poll — the metro's original and largest poll of its kind.

 

Winners will be announced in the February 2024 issue of CITYVIEW!

 

$284,500

5316 Colt Drive

West Des Moines, IA 50266

 

This home has been loved and meticulously updated — the only thing you need to do is move in! You'll be welcomed into an open concept living and dining room with cozy gas fireplace and hardwood floors throughout the main level. Upstairs are 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms while the fully finished basement provides the bonus space you want for a guest space, office, play space, and/or home gym.

 

Residents share experiences working while most others sleep.

By Jackie Wilson

While most of us are catching our last few Zs before dragging ourselves out of bed, others have long been awake and busy, many of them making it possible for us to get our days off to a good start. After all, someone has to make the donuts, brew the coffee and deliver those energy drinks to the shelves. Others rise and shine to care for the early morning needs of patients in hospitals, residents of care centers and women in labor. The list of those working while we sleep goes on, and some of them share their experiences as early risers in this month’s cover story.

Early-morning aromas
The aroma of fresh baked breads, pastries, cakes and cookies permeate the bakery department at the Jordan Creek Hy-Vee in West Des Moines. Stopping by to grab treats for an early-morning office donut run wouldn't be possible without the bakers who are up before dawn. One of the bakers, Joe Peitzman, is just the man for the job.