Thanks Again

My strong belief in writing thank-you notes has been previously documented.  I was happy to come across some advice on Dear Prudence today that revisited Emily Yoffe's feelings about thank-you notes. 

During graduation season I was thinking that if I were to give a commencement address it would open with: “Write thank you notes.” Often people dismiss this obligation as some fusty leftover from an oppressively formal time. It’s not. Thank you notes touch on some basic and universal human issues of respect and reciprocity. It is maddening to go out of your way to do something generous for someone and not have your efforts acknowledged. The young graduates who write their thanks to people who interview them or help them in their job search will absolutely stand out from the crowd. As for your young marrieds, don’t compound their rudeness with your own by reaming them out. If you have sent a gift that was not acknowledged, it’s perfectly fine to inquire of the recipients whether it arrived. Things do get lost, after all. If that doesn’t prompt a thank you, then consider it a financial boon. For couples who can’t express appreciation for a wedding gift, feel free to skip sending something for the baby shower.

I received a thank-you card from my Nana recently for the world's tiniest gift.  I would never have expected a card to recognize the item, but she is a model of good manners, as you can see below.

Nana Flem's message to people who don't write thank-you notes