VIRGINIA BEACH — A Christmas card Jeff Anderson sent to his mother 50 years ago is living on year after year.
It was 1974. Anderson was 25 years old and engaged to be married when he mailed the happy Hallmark card to his mom, Leta, from his hometown in Massachusetts.
“Merry Christmas to a good-looking relative…” snickers a ’70s-esque pink cartoon character with a mischievous grin.
Inside it says, “Save this card!,” in slanted chunky, retro block lettering. And in parenthesis, “(You can send it to me next Christmas!)”
So the tradition began.
Anderson’s mother saved the card for two years, and then sent it back to her son. He then saved it for two more years, and sent it back to his mom. Each time, they wrote a short message to one another.
After his mother’s death 32 years ago, Anderson sent the same card to his older sister, Meredith Parker, who willingly took over the duty.
For more than half of Anderson’s life, through good times and bad, the card has been a treasured souvenir that keeps evolving.