Thank You Notes? "What Are They?"

Childhood birthday parties were a lot of fun shared with family and school friends while playing games, singing, dancing, eating and opening presents.  The end of the party might have been the end of the celebration but for one important task that had to be done as soon as possible, preferably within a few days — writing thank you notes to all who came.  You thanked them as you opened their gift and did a general thank you for coming as they left the party, but the rules of etiquette dictated a hand-written note of some sort be sent after as well.  This fancy word “etiquette” was a system of “rules” that was supposed to turn us into courteous, respectful human beings with good manners.

In this day and age, I wonder if anyone sends thank you notes anymore.  You rarely hear the words “thank you,” let alone see them in writing.  I plead guilty to occasionally failing to use the etiquette of childhood and resorting to email or e-card notifications.  In all honesty, I do enjoy receiving mail in my inbox, so I appreciate the time someone spent to send greetings or thank you’s, regardless of delivery method.  However, viewing a message on a computer screen can’t compare to personally holding a card and reading the personal note written just for me in the handwriting of a relative who is no longer with us. 

So, it saddens me somewhat knowing we might be raising a generation who will never know what a real thank you note is.  I mourn not just for the lack of courtesy and respect, but more for the loss of genuine human interaction (the personal touch) and the loss of connection to previous generations.

Peace,

Kathy Marie