Under the Washington Square Arch in Washington Square Park. 8:30 PM. Photo: JH.

The now almost standard Holiday/ Christmas greeting card is a photograph – often of family, children, or pets – with a message, or maybe without a message, and the names of the senders. This time of year is catch-up declaration time, the “here we are world” where the best foot is put forward with the intention of showing love, as in loved ones, and sharing it. And what could possibly be a better message for all of us. For me, one who is not inclined to send cards (and is even tardy to delinquent in the thank-you note department), these cards are a joy in many ways. One of the cards came from a friend who has two young daughters. Because I rarely see the children, as ours is a working relationship, I catch up on their growth progress when I receive the family holiday card. This year, however, I was really struck by how much they had grown up, are progressing from childhood to that time we call adolescence/girlhood, reminding how shortly they will be young women.

2003	2004

2005	2006

2007

Seeing children grow up, mature, is always fascinating to me. It is one of the great miracles of life. And when you stand far enough back (rarely see them on a day to day), and see the changes and transformations over a period of a year or years, it is a real wonder. So we decided this year, besides showing some of the holiday cards that I receive, to show you an example of a childhood, from toddlerhood to the edge of young girlhood. A beauty, and in itself a reason to rejoice in this chaotic and confounding world of ours. We at NYSD also want thank you dear reader for the gift of your readership; and to wish you all the joy and peace and goodness possible on these days ahead. Happy Holiday and Merry Christmas.

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