I am the ghost of Christmas present here to say “Why the fuck can’t you take the time to say thank you?” That’s right, First, the giver of your gift had to earn the money to purchase me. Then there’s the time and gas to the store and back. Then, there’s the time spent finding just the perfect thing for you. Once home, the gift giver wraps me, puts a pretty bow on me and addresses it so you know that it is just for you. How much time do you think this takes? At least an hour or two, right? Maybe more?
Now think about how much time it takes to write a thank you note. Maybe five minutes? Even less if you send an email thanks (rather than the preferred handwritten note with blue, black or blue/black ink). Not very much time at all, right? Yet it means so very much to the giver…
This year, please take the time to write or say thank you to everyone who took the time to give you a present this year. If you have children, they should write the thank you notes the very day the present is received (it is an excellent habit to get into) and kids too small to write can draw a picture that you can address and mail for them.
People say that Christmas has become too commercialized. Do your part to make it meaningful with a heartfelt thank you. Merry Christmas. —Bad Penny
This article appears in Dec 22-28, 2011.
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Ghost of Christmas present
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http://m.quickmeme.com/meme/35hxy0/
lol, Paul, I wrote this about ten minutes after the LTWWB on holiday post last week then forgot all about it…
Lesson learned. When someone does something nice for me, it is because they’re expecting some sort of material validation in exchange. Good to know they’re not just doing something nice because they love me.. it means my parents were right all along.
Thank you for the reminder. My family has never been big on writing thank you notes … I think mainly because our family is close and we always did ‘thank you’s’ face to face. Showing appreciation for things is important. It helps younger children learn not to take things for granted. And, writing a note of thanks actually puts some meaning behind the ‘thank you’ instead of it being just a couple of words. That’s why, this year, when I received an overwhelming amount of birthday wishes on Facebook, I actually wrote and took a photograph of a ‘thank you’ from me … just something a little different that made me happy and, based on the response I received from it, was also appreciated by others.
So, again, a sincere thank you to you Xeno for the reminder. 🙂
we always wrote thank you notes when we arrived home after christmas. when someone says thank you in person, remember to respond with “you’re welcome” instead of “no problem”. i taught the boy that, and it makes for a better reaction
OB, jealous much?
I always use the Rebus abbreviation; FYTP – translation for those who’ve never read the Rankin books – Fuck You Too Pal.
screee, we love rebus
PG – methinks Ivan should start negotiations to have his hero (Sean Bean) learn a little Jockanese and play the part of Rebus. He has that apres shitfaced look about him, Bean not Ivan.
HAY!, I do TOO!
Hit the nail on the head, OP. Manners matter.
I prefer to thank people in person or pick up the phone and call the person who sent me the gift. Thank you notes aren’t the only way to thank a person.
sean bean would be good. these guys played him on tv http://justpic.info/images2/278f/rebus.jpg http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/passthe…
Troodon yes. Manners matter! Of course one should say thank you for a gift… Most people do! But op is talking about making christmas meaningful by uttering the correct vernacular. Which completely contradicts itself.
I personally can think of nothing more meaningful than uttering a series of stock phrases in order to express gratitude for a gift given in obligation. I can think of nothing more meaningful than following a formula of expression because “that’s how everyone does it”
True gratitude would find this horrifying.
WOT?
As the OP, I disagree vehemently with your interpretation that I insist on “making christmas meaningful by uttering the correct vernacular.” That makes about as much sense as Seb’s assertion that I am jealous.
What I am saying is manner the fuck up. If anyone’s comment was inconceivable, it was your “when someone does something nice for me, it is because they’re expecting some sort of material validation in exchange.” that caused *my* eyebrows to raise.
Listen, IK, although I personally think that taking the time to write a handwritten note (with blue, black or blue-black ink!) is an appropriate response for the receipt of a nice gift, (and I’m not ‘obliged’ to give a gift to anyone, BTW) if you truly feel that “uttering a series of stock phrases in order to express gratitude for a gift given” is meaningless, then, by all means, express yourself! Your thanks could be a drawing of you using the gift, perhaps a poem, haiku or limerick… maybe even an interpretive dance… Whatever.
To not thank someone for a gift makes you look like a churlish SET.
Thank u notes are a waste of paper. Use the phone & save a tree
I rly think peter kelly is one of you, and the rest his hare of idiots, your think is about the same level guys ….
“Hare of idiots”?
Nice to hear from you again Jim, how was the vacation? Did you get a good tan, feel rested and ready to take on the bitchers? Didn’t help your writing too much but it’s always good to take a little break and recharge the old batteries. I really don’t know if Peter Kelly is among us unless PK (Pretty Kitty) is him but I doubt it, she seems to have her shit together.
You’ll have to let me know about this “hare of idiots” thing, that one escaped me.
I can honestly say that all the “card for this, card for that, thank you’s sent out asap” …
bullshit as a kid…
now I don’t give a card for nuthin.
they are a phenomenal waste of money, paper, and time/effort.
if you’re getting me something you think I like and you demand gratitude in return….
do yourself a favor and just don’t fucking bother.
I had a grandmother who demanded thank you cards every time she sent me something….
and so now we haven’t spoke more than twice in the last 5 yrs.