The Art of the Thank-You Note

Mr. Fruitfly's mum gave me a book recently called Southern Cakes. You'll need a hot cup of coffee and some kind of sweet treat while you're reading it, otherwise you'll start chewing on the pages. I highly recommend it. As soon as I make the Red Velvet Cake, which happens to be my all time favorite cake because it reminds me of my time in Alabama, I'll post the picture. This is the second time she's given me a cookbook, a few years back she gave me The Better Homes and Garden New Cookbook. Some of you might be thinking that it's a pretty lame to give someone a cookbook of traditional American food especially since it doesn't have the hip photography (you know, the one with the soft glowing filter). But since I'm a first generation American, we ate what my Panamanian mother and father were accustomed to eating, that's right, Panamanian food. My youth was spent eating arróz con pollo, ceviché, black beans, tamales , and such. For me, American food still fascinates me. Especially any kind of cheesy casserole. I love casseroles! Out of all my cookbooks, the New Cookbook, is the one I use the most. It's stuffed with clippings from newspapers, hand written recipes from my friends grandmothers (including an insane fried chicken recipe) and notes for adjustments made.

As much as I love using that book I didn't send her a thank you card. Please don't stone me alive. I hate writing thank you cards with a passion. My mother made me write thank you cards ever since I was able to hold a crayon. I swore that when I moved out I would NEVER write another one again. Such a rebel, huh? But now that I'm older (and wiser?) I need to get in the habit of writing and sending (that's a big one) out thank you cards. Other wise I'll have heathen children.

The rule is, if you live under the same roof you don't have to send a thank you note. Everyone else gets one, especially if you received a gift for your graduation, showers, or wedding. If you didn't know that, then you need to read Emily Post's Etiquette, for reals. Here are some basic tips to writing a thank you note with the examples:

1. Salutation: Hello Jo,
2. Say thank you: Thank you so much for the cookbook.
3. Mention the item and how you plan on using it: I'd been searching for recipes of cakes that I enjoyed while living in the south and I'm sure we'll enjoy the sweet treats that will be made.
4. Mention the reason why the person gave you the gift such as a wedding or if it was an unexpected gift: It was so sweet of you to think of me while Mr. Fruitfly was visiting.
   
5. Say thank you again, just DO IT!: Thanks again for the cookbook.
6. Sayonarra, adios, so long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, good night: Love, Miss Fruitfly

Done. Please make sure you use a pen and paper for this. I always try to find the cutest and smallest blank note cards available. Don't buy thank you cards that are preprinted with "Thank you" and then sign you name. That's like sending someone a crumpled up note card that say "Thanks, Peace Out. Jimmy". Not good. Don't email a thank you note (Hi, that's tacky), or use a computer to print it out. Don't worry about your penmanship, the point is about effort. As long as they know who sent it, is what counts. Now start writing, no excuses. By the way, no need to send me a thank you card for this. It's pleasure just having you as a reader. Lovely.

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