2010

Phelan Family Chronicles

Over 27 years ago I asked my family of non letter writers / good intentions procrastinators, to write me one letter a year - just one, in November ... and I would put them together into a family newspaper, then send it back to them at Christmas.  Out of sixteen different families I asked this of - I got 15 letters back that first year.  Each year the number goes up ... if one family member doesn't write, another starts - even as young as 8 years old!  We've had distant 'kissin cousins' who were not well known by us, who have joined and bonded us closer together now.  It is such a family treasure - a gift from all of us, to each other!!   One we've all shown over and over to friends who have tried and failed to copy the idea, as our idea just keeps growing stronger year after year.

The photo below is one of our 10th anniversary paper that my co editor Emily Grider, put together with small thumbnail shots of all the different front pages.  The paper has gone from my first efforts of reading difficult hand writing, typing, cut and pasting then photocopying - to computerized electronic letters with photos attachments, downloading and COLOR printing.   Wow!  What a change.  What a FAMILY!!