Thank You Discards

I guess I am not very good at Thank You cards.  It has taken me 45 years to figure that out.  Not bad.  The way it is looking my kids are not going to be very good at them either.

What is so hard about gathering all your presents together, remembering who gave you what, writing down all their names, getting all their addresses, buying $200 worth of stamps, buying stationery, writing out how the item has benefited your life in a non-sarcastic tone, making it legible and getting them out before 12 months are up?

Easy!

Can we send Thank You Emails?  How about Thank You Text messages?  No.  It has to be a card.  A small card in a small envelope with a small stamp.

Thank You cards were part of a different generation, a much more formal generation.  They did not have all the things we have now.  We have way too much going on.  How would I fit in writing a Thank You card today? 

I give a verbal Thank You to the gift-giver, looking them in the eye.  That is enough, right?

In fact, I write a whole slew of virtual Thank You cards to others on facebook every day.  For example, if Aunt Suzy got me a bike for my birthday, I would want her to see that I am out riding that bike.  What better way than to show a picture of me riding that bike all over town?  Or in this case, all over Maui, Hawaii.  Or St Thomas in the Virgin Islands.  Or even Disney World.  True, I cannot ride my bike in Disney World, but I can show you that my bike helped me get there.  And everyone can see all the great places that my new bike is helping me to get to.   

So why take the time to thank others in that old fashioned way when I can say thank you in my new way?

Then again, I really do wish I would write Thank You cards every time someone gave me a gift.  I think it is a fun idea.  

Since I did not thank the people with a card previously, I have compiled a list of things which I am truly grateful for. These things come through again and again:

• Years ago, my Mom made me a gigantic, super heavy quilt out of old Levis.  It still resides in our freezing basement to alleviate the chill.  Thanks, Mom.
• My Dad gave me Grandpa's chop saw which comes in handy every time I have to actually build something.  Thanks, Dad and Grandpa.  My Dad also helped me put up the Christmas lights one year and somehow I dropped the ladder on his head.  Thanks for the help, Dad.  (Should we do Sorry cards too?)
• My wife gave me a leatherman pocket knife, which I use for trimming the weed whacker line.  It's small.  I mostly just use it for that one thing, but it is perfect for that.  Also she made me a really cool Star Wars lanyard with a pen holder.  Thanks, honey.  Oh, and she gave me three beautiful children too!
• My sister gave us some awesome Star Wars pillowcases.  All different designs.  In fact she gave my kids some jammies with Star Wars iron-ons years and years ago.  My son still wears his.  The pants are up to his knees. The iron-on is totally faded.  Thanks, M.
• My Grandma bought us a welcome mat ten years ago for my apartment and it sits at the base of our stairs in our garage now.  Always there.  Always useful.  Always dirty.  Thanks, Grandma.
• My friend, T, gave me a little portable, fold-up plastic fence, which has had so many uses over the years, I can hardly even think what I would do without it.  Thanks, T.
• My Aunt K bought my kids this book called The Goodnight Train and it is my favourite book to read to them at night.  Thanks, Aunt K.
• My Aunt M gave me this little lap thing which has padding on one side and a hard surface on the other.  One can use the hard surface to write on.  I still have it to this day.  Thanks, Aunt M.  (I wonder if she was thinking I would use it to write her a Thank You card...)