Thank You Cards, Birthday Cards, and American Flag Pins

My youngest son had a birthday party a few weeks ago. I know protocol states that I should teach him to send thank you cards to his friends who attended and brought gifts. My sister in law is wonderful about staying on top of such things. In fact I thought about sending them a thank you card for thinking of us when they had Thrashers tickets.

I guess I should be better at sending Thank You cards to people who take time out of their busy schedules to meet with me. I definitely need to send Thank You cards to the clients who put their trust in me and who continue doing business with me. Most definitely I should send Thank You cards to all of you who have referred business to me.

In fact, there are so many people in my life that I feel the need to show a great appreciation for that I need to just set aside a week to write Thank You cards - but I won't.

Why? because long - long ago I was going through my keepsake box, which was packed full of cards. Cards and letters from old boyfriends, and cards and letters from old friends, cards and letters from family. I simply did not have any more room in the box - and it was a big box.

I kept the ones that brought back interesting and endearing  memories, those that were sent with the utmost sincerity - but for the most part they were pieces of trees that were sent as a passing thank you/I am thinking of you/or  oh yeah it's your birthday.

Things that could have been said on the phone or in person. Things that could have been shown with actions or words, that did not need to go on paper.

Today we have technology and I can email a quick note saying thank you, I am thinking of you, or oh yeah - it's your birthday. To me it does not seem necessary to spend $3-7 to buy a piece of paper - which comes from a needed natural resource, as a means to follow protocol, only to be thrown away or lost in a bottom of drawer.

Again I think I would prefer that my words and actions will show all the people in my life that I appreciate them and care about them.

This thought processes led me to think about Obama and his reasoning for not wearing the American Flag Pin. He claims;

“My attitude is that I’m less concerned about what you’re wearing on your lapel than what’s in your heart. You show your patriotism by how you treat your fellow Americans, especially those who serve. You show your patriotism by being true to our values and ideals. That’s what we have to lead with is our values and our ideals.”

I thought  - wow - I found another reason for liking Obama!

Yes I know the thought process seems long - but in my defense, I have been in the car traveling from Alpharetta to St Augustine all day - I had some time to think.