I write letters like personal essays. They keep my friends up to date with what's going on in my life, but they also let me make my point, and they can provide a landmark of where I've been, and where I'm going.
I have a three letters that I wrote in Iowa City when I was attending the University of Iowa and working on my Master's degree. The first was just after we'd moved to another apartment, and the next a was few months later as I looked toward life after higher education.
I wrote some as I was preparing to head to Chicago for my new job, and talking about life in the city. Perhaps the most difficult letter I wrote to deal with my brother Tom's death. Another fun one to honor Rick and Danelle's wedding. Later I wrote some talking about the adjustments that I was going through, a letter from just prior to Thanksgiving of '95, springtime in the city, my parents visit during labor day.
The previous Christmas letter of '96 was sent out just after I moved home from Chicago. Several months later I sent out a letter explaining to everyone why it was that I hadn't gotten a job yet. Two years after that, I had a job, and sent out an explanation for that.
The 2002 annual Christmas letter covers my trip to Hawaii, and the previous two years that I'd neglected. The 2003 letter is much shorter, as is the 2004 letter. (You can pop over to the poetry section for the poem I sent out with them.)
The 2005 Christmas letter is now up. Yes, my life really becoming more boring. It's only two pages this year.
And here are the 2006 and 2007 Christmas letters. Two pages apiece, again.