A better year than most...

It is that time of year again, to go through the card list for Christmas.  It's always an interesting time.  One goes through the list, crossing out or adding names to be mailed cards.  It's the crossing out that is moving.  Sometimes it's a matter of mystery.  One hasn't received a reciprocal card (or any other communication) in 2+ years, and you just give up trying.  But you're left wondering, what happened?  Did they just get lazy, or not care, or was the absence due to something more serious, (death, debilitation)?
But then there are the others.  The friend or acquaintance has indeed passed away.  And late November is when I go through, and eliminate those names from the Christmas list.  It's silly, I know, but it's like hammering the final nail into the coffin for me.  They still have a faint physical presence until then, and then I erase it.  For most of the past 25 years it seems like I've done a lot of "hammering", at least one or two folks each year drop off.  But this one has been kind.  The eraser is unused, and I can look forward only to letters to send, and not regret those that are no longer needed.