VIRGINIA BEACH -- A Christmas card Jeff Anderson sent to his mother 50 years ago is living on year after year.

It was 1974. Anderson was 25 years old and engaged to be married when he mailed the happy Hallmark card to his mom, Leta, from his hometown in Massachusetts.

"Merry Christmas to a good-looking relative..." snickers a '70s-esque pink cartoon character with a mischievous grin.

Inside it says, "Save this card!," in slanted chunky, retro block lettering. And in parenthesis, "(You can send it to me next Christmas!)"

So the tradition began.

Anderson's mother saved the card for two years, and then sent it back to her son. He then saved it for two more years, and sent it back to his mom. Each time, they wrote a short message to one another.

After his mother's death 32 years ago, Anderson sent the same card to his older sister, Meredith Parker, who willingly took over the duty.

For more than half of Anderson's life, through good times and bad, the card has been a treasured souvenir that keeps evolving.

"We send it back and forth without fail," said Parker, who lives in Florida.

She's 80; he's 75, and they like to tease each other about their age and looks.

"She's got a wacky sense of humor, " Anderson said. "We just insult each other back and forth."

Once, Anderson almost misplaced the card. He and his wife had moved to Japan for missionary work, but they found it as they were packing up to move home.

"There it was underneath all the suitcases," said Anderson, who now lives in Virginia Beach.

In 1999 -- year 25 -- The Virginian-Pilot featured a story about the card and how it was a thread that had run through Anderson's life for a quarter of a century.

Another 25 years have passed. The paper has softened and yellowed with age. The quips have faded and wrap around the back of the card.

"We're running out of room, aren't we?" said Parker.

Sometimes the banter over the years has focused on current events.

In 2000, when there was a presidential election recount, Parker wrote: "2001 Will we will have a president?"

And in 2010, Parker wrote, "Hanging in there through a Great Recession."

Other years, the notes are more sentimental. Parker beat cancer in 2012. Their brother died in 2013.

When Anderson reads through the correspondence, especially the words of his mother, a smile washes over his face. He's reminded of "the good ol' days."

"Christmas was her holiday," he said.

Next year, it's Anderson's turn to send the card back to his sister. He's not sure yet what he'll write. It depends on how she's doing.

"I may send back a nice, 'I love you so much' type of thing," he said. "Or I might say, 'To the best looking 91-year-old. Oh I'm sorry, 81-year-old.'"

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, [email protected]