ThereB次元官网网址檚 a little bit of history going back and forth in the mail in East Kootenay, with a Christmas card that dates back more than 60 years making a regular trek through Canada Post every year.

Fernie resident Catherine Crewe, and Invermere resident Nancy Nester have been signing, dating, and sending the same Christmas card back and forth to each other since they were both five years old.

Crewe, who sends the card to Nester on odd-numbered years, said that it began when her mother received a card from NesterB次元官网网址檚 mother in 1960.

B次元官网网址淢y mom and NancyB次元官网网址檚 mom were best friends in Toronto, growing up and going to school,B次元官网网址� she said.

CreweB次元官网网址檚 mother kept the card she received in 1961, signed it with her name and the year, and sent it back from where she lived in Lethbridge.

That simple act began a tradition, with Crewe and Nester taking over responsibility of sending the card back and forth to where-ever the other lived across Canada starting in 1964, when Nester was five years old.

Since then, the two long-time penpals havenB次元官网网址檛 missed a year, even if they infrequently meet in person.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no unbroken year - thereB次元官网网址檚 every year marked,B次元官网网址� said Crewe.

B次元官网网址淓very even-numbered year she sends it to me, and every odd-numbered year I send it to her.B次元官网网址�

That means, as we get close to Christmas in 2021, Crewe is in possession of the card which sheB次元官网网址檒l soon be sending to Nester, in Invermere.

B次元官网网址淲e take good care of it now,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e register it with the mail because we donB次元官网网址檛 want it lost.B次元官网网址�

The card has done a lot of travelling between where they both have lived over the years - Toronto, Lethbridge, Fernie, Waterton, Victoria and Invermere.

The card is simple, reading B次元官网网址淗ave a merry Christmas and the happiest new year ever!B次元官网网址�

Over the years, itB次元官网网址檚 been filling up with names and dates.

B次元官网网址淵ou can see how our writing has changed over the years,B次元官网网址� said Crewe, pointing to NesterB次元官网网址檚 first signature in 1964, and hers underneath, from 1965.

B次元官网网址淲hat it means to me is it brings back memories of my mom,B次元官网网址� said Crewe, who explained neither her mom or NesterB次元官网网址檚 had any plan to keep it, or begin a tradition when they first sent the card back to each other.

B次元官网网址淭hey were busy - they were both working moms raising kids and a family, and they kept at this.

B次元官网网址淔or me its really important to keep it going in memory of my mom.B次元官网网址�

ThereB次元官网网址檚 no plans to stop anytime soon - while the inside of the card is filling up, itB次元官网网址檚 printed on a letter-size piece of paper.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 still space.B次元官网网址�

Nester said that the tradition was a compelling one, and was probably one for the record books by now. The current record (as recorded by Guiness World Records) for exchanging the same Christmas card is held by two Americans, who sent the same card back and forth for 57 years between 1930 and 1987.

Nester said that she nor Crewe had any intention of breaking the tradition anytime soon.

B次元官网网址淥f course (weB次元官网网址檒l keep it going) - as long as we can.B次元官网网址�

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