GRATITUDE, GRANDCHILDREN & THANK YOU NOTES

  

Do you always receive a thank you note for the presents you send to your grandchildren?

If you listen to women at club meetings and bridge parties, you’re apt to hear a lot of grumbling on the subject.  Conventional wisdom says you should stop sending gifts to anyone who doesn’t acknowledge receiving them.  But hey, wait a minute.   Between the two of us, my husband and I have nine grandchildren,  Some write lovely thank you notes, some text or email, and a few of them say nothing at all.  Are we supposed to stop sending birthday and Christmas checks to the ungrateful ones?  We must conclude that those who don’t acknowledge gifts have not been well trained by their parents—who happen to be our very own children.

  

At our age, we never know when some medical disaster will strike.  So, before that happens, we want each and every grandchild to know that we love  them.  Who knows what troubles they will experience  as they struggle through school, work, marriage and raising children?.  Perhaps, at some low moment, they will feel cheered to think they had a grandparent who cared enough to remember them on every single birthday.  As a matter of fact, I went to a funeral  years ago, and the grandson who gave the eulogy mentioned that his grandmother always sent him a birthday card, even though he lived in Japan and only visited her once a year.  Some of our grandchildren live nearby, and we see them often.  Naturally, we will form stronger bonds with the ones who live close than with those who live thousands of miles away.  Then, too, there are issues like divorce or in-law problems that affect the way our grandchildren feel about us.  But as long as we are able, we’re going to keep sending those cards and  checks to all of them.

PROLIFIC WRITERS, THICK BOOKS AND ACHY SHOULDERS

If you read my profile, you will see that I've published a few books, myself, so I know how much effort goes into producing 600+ pages.  Unfortunately for seniors, heavy hardcover books can leave you with sore fingers and achy shoulders, depending on the severity of your arthritis.

I've just returned from the library, and as I stood perusing the shelves, I realized that I was unconsciously bypassing thick books.  I know---I could miss something really great.  But there's always Kindle if I see a book that looks like a MustRead.  And,  let's face it, there's lots of competition for readers among authors, and millions of books on the market. 

Now, gift books are another matter, because they are frequently chosen by a well meaning adult child to give a parent on special occasions.  Gift givers want to appear generous, so they are apt to choose thick books that will look good under the Christmas tree.  Of course,as a recipient, I feel compelled to read these large volumes, employing various devices such as finding a place to prop up my knees to hold the book, or opening it flat on a table while I sit with elbows propped, fists against my cheek.

Naturally, if I am buying a book, I want to get my money's worth, so I won't spend $25 for 120 pages. It seems to me 300 or 400 pages is about right for my shoulders.  So authors, don't worry if you can't come up with a sequel to War & Peace.