For the past 22 years, friends and family of Marble Cliff residents Cindy McKay and Ken Frick have looked forward to receiving their annual “McFrick” holiday greeting card. Cindy and Ken started sending handmade photo Christmas cards after their engagement in 1986. In 1993, they began collaborating on an annual card, featuring a family photo, a wooden deer (usually painted white) and a message based on a holiday story or song.
Their son, Kevin, now a teacher in Springfield, has always been a part of the family card. His proud parents claim, “He’s been a good sport, doing as instructed. We try to add the humor.”
Both agree the card is truly a collaboration, and that’s the best part of making the card, according to Cindy: “Sometimes, the photo comes to mind first; sometimes, the text or message.”
Since 1986, each card has been handmade, with the picture taped to card stock containing the message and signed “The McFricks.”
Staging the picture has usually been the hardest part, especially when it comes to placing wooden deer into the proper pose and position to illustrate the story. Ken says, “Putting the wooden deer onto the roof for the 1999 (Y2K) picture was our most ambitious effort and the one drawing the most attention from neighbors.”
Digital photography has made the overall process much easier and quicker. “We no longer must wait for a roll of film to be developed to see if we got a good picture,” Ken says.
Ken believes the responses they get from recipients are the best part of this tradition. “We’ve had people request a card. We’ve been told the card is anxiously awaited, even expected. And if we’re late (that can happen), people mention that they haven’t gotten their card yet and ask if everything is OK.”
What are they doing for 2013? They will only say that it is being worked on with no theme decided yet. With Kevin’s recent engagement, Ken says it is fair to say his fiancé will be invited, but not required, to participate. Time will tell.
Like the other 100 or so recipients this year, “We’re looking forward to seeing this year’s card,” says Marble Cliff Mayor Kent Studebaker. “It’s a holiday tradition!”
