Thank You Notes

The battle to finish the Thank You notes has almost been won. And what a battle it has been – from finding note cards that are suitable and didn’t cost big $$$, to the ever present question of “who is this person? Do you know –insert unknown person here-?” to the simple fact that neither of us actually wanted to write them, the battle has be long and hard.


Perhaps I am just another example of a thankless, thoughtless generation but I find it hard to understand the need for a thank you note. We thanked everyone that came at the wedding, we fed them, played music for them, put on a show and gave them a token to remember the event – honestly they should be thanking us! Instead my new husband and I are expected (by at least the, ahem, older people that came) to argue over what to say, what cards to use, and who writes whose card for hours on end, all so some old lad- I mean someone, can read a short card (with probably the same thing written on it that we wrote to 20 other people we really don’t know) and say, “Well, isn’t that nice!”

In today’s day and age, people who are of my generation don’t seem to expect any sort of formal thanks. When I asked for addresses from people they all responded with “Oh, I don’t need a thank you!” – has the Thank You note lost its place as a cultural norm? Does anyone under the age of 60 really expect a thank you note from people? Anyone under the age of 30?

I probably sound a wee bit whiney. And maybe I am. I really don’t mind writing a thank you note to people I actually know in more than passing. I can be myself in those notes and it feels more personal. It’s really difficult to write a note to someone I haven’t seen since I was six or someone who’s a friend of a friend’s mom. In my notes I like to include something that implies I at least know the person, and when I don’t – well, I feel like a fake.

In the card and gift we got for the couple who recently got married we included a note that said ‘Please do not worry about a thank you.” And most likely, we will do that to all the cards and gifts we give at weddings (and GRADUATIONS, omg, flashbacks to that horror) because we know what a trial it can be and that they will have a hundred other notes to worry about.

Inevitably someone will be forgotten during the thank you marathon, and of course it will be one of the few who will be deeply offended by not getting one. Ah, well. Most likely it will be one of those people we both have to ask the other, “Do you know them?” “No.” “Well, then why bother worrying about it.”

Two for one!

Yesterday was my friend’s (and also former housemate) wedding. She was lovely and elegant and the wedding was so sweet. It was simple; they got married in a church that was simply decorates in white and blue flowers and she and her groom were married under and arbor. The ceremony was informal and when the minister slipped up and said the wrong thing it wasn’t horrifying it was laughed off and everyone seemed so relaxed. I feel like this is how weddings should be.


It reminded me of mine. So relaxed and though there were a lot of people there it was intimate. Everyone was sharing in this very special moment, but you could tell that the bride and groom only were thinking of each other. It makes me smile just remembering that feeling. There was only him and I and the ministering saying that we were married, a church stuffed with people, but I barely noticed. I could only grin in happiness.

Nathan and I were just discussing today how it’s so hard to believe it was not even two months ago that we got married. Sometimes it feels as though we have been together our whole lives. It’s so normal, but also fantastic. We’re married! The wedding was an opportunity to introduce Nathan as my husband rather than my fiancé/boyfriend. It slid right out like the most normal thing; inside I was like, YAY!

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Some nights I don’t sleep. I get random insomnia that will keep me awake all night and it is very frustrating. I either can’t shut off my brain or I simply am suddenly no longer tired. I am always exhausted the next day and of course am fully able to sleep once I am supposed to be awake. Living the third shift lifestyle as been interesting with these random insomniac tendencies; it’s hard to tell if I am unable to sleep do to it being 1pm and my body saying to it’s awake time or if it’s insomnia keeping me from sleeping either way switching my sleeping schedule has been difficult. Last night Nathan went to bed at 12 am. This is a somewhat normal bedtime for most people, for us however it’s like going to bed at 5 pm. WAY early. He was out for the night. Me I laid there for a couple hours, got up and watched a movie and finally crawled back into bed around 3 and proceded to toss and turn for another hour. Nathan woke up at 4 and I was still half awake, grumpy, frustrated and very, very tired. He was up at 8:30 and slept til 1:30. Sleep in this house is on a cracked out schedule. This fall is going to be fun. Switching sleep schedules to coincide with classes will be a challenge, especially if I have Bio at 7:45 am. :/

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