Karl and Ingrid's Christmas Ritual

5" x 7" greeting card with red envelope and blank card insert for writing personal message

Story excerpt = first two paragraphs:

Fifty-five years ago, Karl and Ingrid Schumer spent their first Christmas together as a married couple. Young and in love, they wanted to combine family holiday traditions and each picked out their favorite. Ingrid's parents used to gather the children to decorate the tree and then afterward there was a contest. The children had to sit in the living room and when their parents yelled "Go!" they raced to the kitchen and whoever touched the counter first got to enjoy the first glass of eggnog of the season. Karl too found that tradition quite charming and so every Christmas he and Ingrid kept the festivity alive.

After a few years of experimenting with different seating arrangements, it was established that Karl would always sit on the couch and Ingrid in her chair. With no one else in the house to say "Go!" they decided that one of them would have to make the first move for the race to commence. The first few years were playful with the contest usually ending in laughter and romantic cuddling. But after a while, the contest became increasingly competitive and at times downright combative. ...

(story continues ... nobody likes a ruined ending)