The art of "Thank You"
When I was growing up I could never bear the end of the holiday season for with it came the gloom of returning to life as normal and the burden of writing each and every soul who gave me a present a “Thank You” note. My Mom insisted on this. She would tie me to a chair and table, place a pen in my hand and command: “Write!” I would cry, I would moan, I would try to reason with her.
“Why do I need to send out a thank you note? I said thank you in person when I opened the present… I’m sure they heard me…” I would also point out I had better things to do with my precious time. Like practicing singing for my future on Broadway, or stealing clothes from my older sister’s closet... I never managed to get away from writing thank you notes, although I did manage delaying the chore until February or sometimes March. But even then, I would be forced at some point to obey and the dreaded thank you notes would finally be sent.
Now that I’ve had time to separate myself from my childhood I actually make it a point to continue to send thank you cards in the mail. I enjoy old-fashioned mail and feel this is a form of etiquette that shouldn’t be replaced or killed off by modern rudeness. I have noticed, however, very few individuals take the time to do likewise. Even my niece and nephew get away with not sending out thank you cards. Obviously, their parents have not introduced them to this form of etiquette, so I’m afraid they are simply missing out on all the fun. When they are older and readers of this blog, perhaps then they will learn the importance of this ancient and exciting form of etiquette.
This Christmas I received a card from an elderly woman who is somehow distantly related to me who I send cards to from time to time. Her husband died last year and she currently lives alone. She was also close to my Grandma Winnie. She wrote in her brief letter to me, “You never forget me.” These words jumped out the page at me. They are a startling reminder as to why old-fashioned mail should not go out style and how it can, in fact, move people.
“Why do I need to send out a thank you note? I said thank you in person when I opened the present… I’m sure they heard me…” I would also point out I had better things to do with my precious time. Like practicing singing for my future on Broadway, or stealing clothes from my older sister’s closet... I never managed to get away from writing thank you notes, although I did manage delaying the chore until February or sometimes March. But even then, I would be forced at some point to obey and the dreaded thank you notes would finally be sent.
Now that I’ve had time to separate myself from my childhood I actually make it a point to continue to send thank you cards in the mail. I enjoy old-fashioned mail and feel this is a form of etiquette that shouldn’t be replaced or killed off by modern rudeness. I have noticed, however, very few individuals take the time to do likewise. Even my niece and nephew get away with not sending out thank you cards. Obviously, their parents have not introduced them to this form of etiquette, so I’m afraid they are simply missing out on all the fun. When they are older and readers of this blog, perhaps then they will learn the importance of this ancient and exciting form of etiquette.
This Christmas I received a card from an elderly woman who is somehow distantly related to me who I send cards to from time to time. Her husband died last year and she currently lives alone. She was also close to my Grandma Winnie. She wrote in her brief letter to me, “You never forget me.” These words jumped out the page at me. They are a startling reminder as to why old-fashioned mail should not go out style and how it can, in fact, move people.
Labels: daily, thank you notes
1 Comments:
Wow, that was a good story! I also find it strange because I was just remembering the other day how we had to write "Thank You" cards out to everyone around this time of year. I like "Thank You" cards and regular mail too!
Post a Comment
<< Home