Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!

Subject: RE: Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!
From: GUEST,Dave'sWife
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 09:00 AM

what Church is this? I might want to stop in when in the neighborhood! Sounds like it's not to be missed!

Subject: RE: Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 10:53 AM

Dave's Wife:

The church is Immanuel Baptist and it's at 1324 Chapel Street. If you need a haircut, I'll give you Willie C's address for his barber shop...

Jerry

Subject: RE: Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 08:26 PM

When John Lennon was living in the Dakota, I wrote a letter to him. Not the usual fan letter, but an expression of appreciation for all he'd said about being a Father in an article I'd recently read. I talked about a common connection of Lonnie Donegan and skiffle music and sent him a copy of my first album on Folk Legacy. A couple of weeks later, the double album that he'd just completed with Yoko Ono arrived in the mail with the Dakota as a return address. That Saturday night, Dan Akroyd was posing as a trash collector at the Dakota, searching through John's garbage, hoping to find out more about the new album (which hadn't yet been released to the public.) Meanwhile, I was enjoying listening to my advance copy. It would have been especially beautiful if there'd been a note enclosed, but there wasn't. Even then, I was overwhelmed that he (or someone for him) would have sent me the double album. I sent another letter thanking him and Yoko for the albums, telling them how much I enoyed them, commenting on some particular songs.

A couple of weeks later, he was shot.

When the spirit moves you, don't put it off...

Jerry

Subject: RE: Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!
From: Jeanie
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 03:29 AM

This is a lovely thread, and I am so glad it has been revived again. I would like to echo what Jerry has just said: When the spirit moves you, don't put it off.

As well as writing to my old teacher, as I told in my post the last time this thread was revived, I also wrote a very personal and heartfelt thank you letter to my parents. By writing it all down, I felt able to say what I felt in a much clearer way than by trying to speak it all - my emotions get in the way, and I end up blubbing incoherently. The advantage of this, too, is that it gives the person receiving it something to keep and read over again. I realized the importance of this only very recently. My father died a few months after I had written the letter, and I was so glad I had done it. My mother has now also died - and the first thing I found when opening her bedside table drawer was that letter.

So, please don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

- jeanie

Subject: RE: Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 12:28 PM

Seems like a good time to refresh this for a new crop.:-)

Subject: RE: Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 01:16 PM

Well, let's see… I can't say as I have ever written to anyone JUST to thank them from the work they've done, but I've written for other reasons and managed to add some complimentary comments to my message.

It's easy now that most authors have web sites. (If they don't, I am told, you can always reach them through their publisher.)

I e-mailed James W. Loewen because I read on his web site that he was collecting information for a future book, so I sent him some information, and he thanked me, and we exchanged a few more e-mails.

Years ago, before e-mail, I sent a long letter to Jan Harold Brunvand, the collector of urban legends and maybe the guy who coined the term. I told him several of the stories I had heard, most of which were variants of stories he had already printed, but some were new, or so I suspected. He made one of them the subject of his newspaper column.

Also, I have e-mailed the owners of several web sites to point out errors. I always make a point of thanking them for creating the web site and posting useful information. (If it wasn't a web site that I liked and found useful, I probably wouldn't bother to e-mail them at all.) I have gotten gracious replies from most of them.

Subject: RE: Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 02:59 PM

Strangely enough, one of my guitar pupils from nearly 30 years ago e-mailed me last week, and said Thanks for everything.

It was one of the nicest things ever. Because I tend to think if life is a test, for the main part I failed it. I never seemed to know what the right thing to do was. Just about every life choice, I got wrong. And the wrong choices were rough on a whole lot of people.

However perhaps that one time, I got something right - or I was just lucky, the right person at the the right time.

Like Jerry said, don't leave it too long before you say those thankyous. It gives a whole lot more pleasure than you can ever imagine.

Subject: RE: Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!
From: Sorcha
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 03:35 PM

I wrote my parents a letter before either of them died....

Subject: RE: Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!
From: Celtaddict
Date: 01 Jul 07 - 09:59 PM

I did not see this thread before.
I just spoke with my husband's daughter. We have not heard from her in months and unfortunately he and she both tend to think it is the other one's turn to call, and to feel put out if they do not receive a call.
Please, call, write, do anything, do not let people precious to you drift out of your life!
I want to know who else has written those letters.
I was privileged to meet my high school biology teacher decades after I graduated, and when I had been practicing medicine for years. I was also blessed to be able to work in the delivery room with the doctor who delivered me and my brothers. We are usually not that lucky; we had better make those events happen ourselves! My brother tracked down the retired minister from our childhood to perform his wedding ceremony.
I think I will write some of the folks from whom I have learned a lot.
Mental list underway.

Subject: RE: Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!
From: Sorcha
Date: 01 Jul 07 - 10:22 PM

My parents both told me they appreciated the letter and saved it, but we didn't find it when we cleaned out the house. Wish I had it now....might help my 'blues'.

Subject: RE: Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!
From: Bert
Date: 01 Jul 07 - 11:23 PM

Aw! don't have the blues Sorkieluv,

Pop on down to the Springs and we'll sing a few songs.

Subject: RE: Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 11:12 AM

[sigh]

I just learned that a 50-year-old friend died suddenly of a heart attack yesterday. We first met in 1978. He went out for a lunchtime jog, and this time didn't have anyone to run with so was alone, and someone found him later. I had sent a letter and a small gift in March at his birthday, but it wasn't enough, we should have spoken more often and in more depth.

Sadly,

SRS

Subject: RE: Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 11:32 AM

A Pagan friend in Canada sent me a book called "Love you forever" to read to Harry. It's a childrens book with a lovely message. Having a family puts things in perspective.

Recently I have been writing to my Grandad (my fathers dad). Dad's side of the family don't really keep in touch with each other and I thought I would start to make the effort. The last time I saw him was in January and he was in intensive care. I sat there with him and I could hear (in my mind) all the stories he used to tell me and my brother as kids and I realised I wanted to hear those stories about his life again. We're going up to Yorkshire to see them and other members of the family soon so that Harry hears the stories too!

I tend to phone people to say Hi or how are you, but letters are good too. I recently wrote a letter to a couple of school friends, it's something we tend to do once a year. Perhaps we should write more.

This is a wonderful thread and I'm glad it's been refreshed.

Subject: RE: Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!
From: GUEST,Bob
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 11:34 AM

Around the corner I have a friend,


In this great city that has no end,


Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,


And before I know it, a year is gone.


And I never see my old friends face,


For life is a swift and terrible race,


He knows I like him just as well,


As in the days when I rang his bell.


And he rang mine but we were younger then,


And now we are busy, older men.


Tired of playing a foolish game,


Tired of trying to make a name.


"Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on Jim,


Just to show that I'm thinking of him."


But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,


And distance between us grows and grows.


Around the corner, yet miles away,


"Here's a telegram sir," "Jim died today."


And that's what we get and deserve in the end.


Around the corner, a vanished friend.


Remember to always say what you mean.


If you love someone, tell them.


Don't be afraid to express yourself.


Reach out and tell someone what they mean to you.


Because when you decide that it is the right time it might


be too late.


Seize the day. Never have regrets.

Subject: RE: Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!
From: Diva
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 12:11 PM

Good one Bob and very true. letter writing is an art and takes time, nowadays we tend to prefer the imediacy of the email, text and phone but i remember when we used to look forward to letters from the family and is doesn't seem that long ago......

Subject: RE: Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!
From: GUEST,Diva
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 03:03 PM

With this thread in mind I've just hand written and delivered some thank you notes to local businesses who help with the Newcastleton Music Festival and had a wee blether with them while I was there......personal approach is always a good thing and I was stunned but pleased by the reception i got

Subject: RE: Writing Someone Alive to Say Thanks!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 07:51 PM

As the Carter Family song puts it, Give me the roses while I live