Depending on where you live, you can now find greeting cards in the supermarket, chain drug store, New Age book stores, Trader Joe’s, department stores, office supply stores, the few “stationery” stores that are left. No matter how expensive, elegant, flowery, corporate, ditzy or religious, “Thank You” cards may be, it is thought that the sentiment has been expressed. People think all they need to do is sign them.
And some “Thank You” card recipients might feel miffed, scorned, basically unappreciated.
I know it would infuriate me if I sent a wedding present, and I didn’t get a thank you note that at least acknowledged my name and the gift I’d given.
This could be a generational phenomenon: I was taught to write thank you notes. My cousin has taught her twin sons to do the same. My friend has taught her twin girls to write thank you notes.
I’m afraid the traditional etiquette is dying. If you get a thank you note these days, you might get a small personal message like, “Dear Aunt Verdana, I can’t tell you how much your gift means to me.”
A few years ago I got a generous check in the mail from a former employer and started to write a thank you note. I thought about that for a day. I realized that I couldn’t write the usual thank you words that express NOTHING. I caught myself in a major COP OUT !!
So, think about WHAT the gift you were given means to you, HOW it could help you, WHEN it could, WHERE you could use it. And write down all the things that the big check, or whatever your special gift, can mean to you. I wrote the following:

• I could take a girlfriend out to lunch.
• I could say yes to meet friends for coffee.
• I could take my cat to the vet – for a check up.
• I could stock up on toilet paper on sale.
• I could find some one to help me keep my house clean.
• With a bit more added, I could visit family and friends in NW CT./NY.
• I could get my hair cut.
• I could by a new non-stick skillet.