Christmas cards etc

I am still working on my cards . There's more than one list and some year I will correlate them! I'll try. My problem is there have been so many places that I've lived and essentially so many Jeans, all different along the way.
My old school friend died last year, but I know all the rest are alive if not necessarily well and kicking . Trying to keep  them all up to scratch has been made much easier with the use of computer technology though for some this is a double edged sword. The man who now sends me four pages of news used to get it all onto the back of his card!
People seem to need to tell you every detail of theirs and their children's lives, in my case we are now up to grandchildren and even great grandchildren. I don't remember all their names and the element of competition ruins many a good tale as they recount with pride all their academic achievements.
In the end though it is the time honoured way of keeping in touch with those who at various times of our lives were important to us. I am glad to hear from all of them even those whose links are tenuous.
Today I had a card from a lady I have only met three times. I buried the ashes of her mother some years ago and she valued what I did for her then and always comes to church when she's here. Unfortunately I am not at the same church now so she often misses me. This letter carries a message asking me to pray for her and  if she can see me next time she's in Cornwall.
This sort of card is important to me and I will of course always see her.
Some of my friends have yet to come to terms with the Jean they knew years ago and the one they now see in a dog collar.  My theatrical days and my days in teaching were filled with fun and joy and the woman they now know may not seem quite real until we start to chat and they say with relief, "Oh your still the same"
My dearly departed brother in law Fred said it all when I told him I was going to be ordained.
He was an actor and married into an acting family.
"But darling that's wonderful!  Just think, you've scored the biggest part in every production!"
Not quite the way I'd put it
 I have changed I suppose but being in the church brings me much joy and God has been good to me but I am still the dozy, fun loving girl I always was and I do thank God for it.