There's been a lot of purging, sorting, straightening up and general cleaning going on around here. Part of it is "spring" and part of it is getting ready for the cable guy to come. It doesn't matter that I'll probably never see him again. I just don't want to be the topic of one of those Nextel conversations between the Direct TV service vans about the hideous heap of cat hair, stray socks and Legos that was found once the entertainment units were pulled away from the wall.
In the midst of rearranging the dungeon that is the large closet in our office-school-scrapbook-guest room, I found this:
In case you can't tell, it's a box of greeting cards and mostly blank Thank You notes... from when our daughter was born. I say mostly blank, because some of them actually have writing in them. That lovely card on the top was lovingly made by my friend Shirley. She took the time to make a card and send a cute gift (a very cute navy and green plaid romper with a sweet crocheted flower and lace collar, matching socks and also some scrapbooking supplies for baby girl pages...) and I didn't have the decency to even thank her properly for it! If I'm remembering correctly, Emily Post allows 6 months (no more than a year for wedding gifts) to get such thanks sent. Shirley - I apologize. I'm about 6 and 3/4 years past due! THANK YOU for your thoughtfulness and please forgive me my rudeness. And the rest of you too... If you didn't receive your due "thanks" at the time, (at ANY time) it's not because I wasn't truly grateful for your kindness - my follow through just stinks!
This is the story of my life - full of good intentions and thankful thoughts never completed. It's my least favorite character flaw (assuming one can have a favorite character flaw...) and something I'm really trying, with the Lord's help, to correct. I have a rule that my mother taught me: "You can't use it until you send the thank you note for it". And thus, I have a basket full of blank thank you cards and a stack of birthday gifts on my desk that I'm not allowed to use yet (except for maybe the Culver's, Hallmark and Target gift cards...) I seem to be plagued with AOUADHWTD (Adult Onset Undiagnosed Attention Deficit "Hey, What's That?" Disorder). This is further proved by the stacks of 37 cent postage stamps I have stored in my wallet.
This is the story of my life - full of good intentions and thankful thoughts never completed. It's my least favorite character flaw (assuming one can have a favorite character flaw...) and something I'm really trying, with the Lord's help, to correct. I have a rule that my mother taught me: "You can't use it until you send the thank you note for it". And thus, I have a basket full of blank thank you cards and a stack of birthday gifts on my desk that I'm not allowed to use yet (except for maybe the Culver's, Hallmark and Target gift cards...) I seem to be plagued with AOUADHWTD (Adult Onset Undiagnosed Attention Deficit "Hey, What's That?" Disorder). This is further proved by the stacks of 37 cent postage stamps I have stored in my wallet.
During this same box sorting I came across several "get well" "hang in there" and "thinking of you" cards I'd purchased too. (Not to mention the myriad projects I've started making for others.) The irony of it all? I'm currently teaching a "Ministry of Card Making" class in our homeschool Co-Op. I'm still kicking myself for not sending a little get well wish to one of the young ladies that was out sick last week. What kind of an example is THAT?
Today's to do's: send a "hope you're well now" card, finish thanking my friends for my wonderful birthday nearly 6 months ago, and now that Michaela can write, get her to finish those baby gift thank yous...
Your post has me giggling. Love ya!!
ReplyDeleteOk absolutely love the last line there!!! I think I will get my 5yo to finish the thank you's from when he was born, great idea Sara! Oh and while we were moving I found the materials I had put together for for birth announcements- no silly not for this baby-for the 5yo. Suffice it to say I am just glad that I'm not alone!
ReplyDeleteI don't think that it is ever too late for a thank you no matter what form it takes!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brooke. Send a few anyway....people will really appreciate it and it'll make you feel better. Lisa~
ReplyDeleteI can so relate!
ReplyDeleteOh Sara.....are you sure we aren't sisters! It is always good to know that i am not the only one...thanks for being humble enough to share...and also for encouraging us to do better!
ReplyDeleteI, too, think sending them late would be darling. Even more thoughtful than when you first wrote them. The thank you note receipients would really giggle.
ReplyDeleteEspecially if Michaela wrote it.
Glad you're back to blogging. We missed you.
ReplyDeleteAwww, wish you had told me about this disorder cause I could have helped you write out some when I wrote out mine! ;) ;) Muah love ya girl!!!!
ReplyDelete