It was 1980-something

when the 4 of us met. It was our first year out of elementary school. We were in the 7th grade at Mt. View Jr. High School.

Over the years we moved around. 1987 found us graduating; one from John R. Rogers High School, one from Deer Park High School and the other two from East Valley High School. Two of us went to Spokane Falls College together for a little over a year, then one moved away, then the other. By 2000 something the four of us had not heard from one or another in a few years. There were boyfriends, marriages, babies and breakups over time. We all grew up and created our lives, some found a path and stayed on it, some changed paths and yet another is still looking to find the way.





Then, one day the stars all aligned perfectly and the 4 of us were able to be in the same place at the same time. So, on July 26, 2009, we all got together and had a slumber-birthday party. We had such a fantastic time!

It is such a tremendous blessing to still be such close friends with the girls I met when I was 12 years old. All 3 of them are a blessing in my life. I am proud to know them and even more proud to call them friends!

Here's to us - Mt. View Jr. High School Lancers - Class of 1984!

Is it just bad manners...

or maybe some people just don't know any better.

Now, let me begin with the fact that I am not the most dependable "Thank you" card writer. I usually buy the cards, start them, get distracted and neglect to finish them, or if I do finish, forget to mail them. Then, several months later it just seems like it is too late, so they just sit in the box waiting for me to find them again and be overcome with shame at not ever sending them.

Not to excuse this impolite behavior, but I must add that, although I don't always get the cards sent out, I do make a point, right away, to either thank the person face to face when I receive the gift or make a phone call and let them know it arrived and I appreciate it. I'm not always perfect at cards, but I do my best to always say thank you in some form.

I believe that it is only good manners and common courtesy to say "please", "thank you", "excuse me" and so on. When you receive a gift a phone call, e-mail, card or something to send your thanks is also, to me, a common courtesy. When a gift is sent in the mail, especially across several States it seems that it would be a polite thing to let the person know you did receive the package, no matter how insignificant the gift may be.

I also feel that if a person sends you a gift and you don't want it, or anything else they might send you, that it would be a polite thing to say "Thanks but no thanks. I don't want anything from you." At least that way the sender would know that the efforts are wasted and would be better spent on others who appreciate knowing they are thought of, cared for, and loved.

So, is one to think it is merely bad manners when an acknowledgement is not made? Or maybe they are not yet mature enough to realize the sincere thought and effort put into choosing "just the right thing"? Or, is it that they are just not adult enough to say "Thanks, but no thanks"?

I would like to think that when people neglect to say "thank you" that it is truly only bad manners or an oversight. Because I know, at least for myself, that when a gift is given, it comes from the heart. Not from obligation or guilt, but because someone wants to let someone else know that they are cared for, no matter what.

The Thank You Campaign

I'm not sure how to post video on here, so I'll just paste in the link.

As I am sure you can tell from previous posts, I am a proud American and supporter of our troops. My father and son are members of the Idaho POW/MIA organization and I participate regularly. I have a POW/MIA Soldiers bracelet which I wear faithfully. I believe it takes a strong man* to fight for our country and even stronger families to stay behind and support them. They all deserve our thanks. Here is one way to show it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSfFYxSdKdo


*used in the "mankind" sense. They know who they are. Being "politically correct" is kinda' silly if you ask me...