The first really
conscious thought I had this morning was "Oh shit I still have to write MImi that
thank you note." Thank you notes are little letters that certain people expect from you acknowledging gifts that they have sent
ostensibly so that they know that you have received said gift, but often simply to
glorify the
gift-giver. At least that's how it goes in my family. My grandmother, Mimi, is the worst where these things are concerned. She has sent each grandchild
monogrammed stationary for as long as I remember for the sole purpose of always having something to write her thank you notes with. Failure to respond with the proper degree of
enthusiasm would not only result in a serious
downgrade of gifts - she liked to give the really good presents to her favorite, of which I was never one. My cousin Anne got a 1969 VW Bug convertible for her
16th birthday. I got a
clock radio. I admit it, I'm
bitter, but this woman's mean. - but would also result in a stern lecture detailing how
ungrateful we all are. This Christmas, my sister, who is usually a favorite, got a copy of Emily Post with a stamped postcard marking the section on Thank you notes. The woman's
obsessed! My sister wrote her a note detailing how rude she thought that gesture was. She called it the
Not-Thank-You note.
My suitcase broke not too long ago and at my sister's
wedding I mentioned it. Mimi had an old one that she sent me. I received it
last week, but didn't open it until last night.
Inside was a stamped envelope addressed to her, with my address in the corner.