Nothing is free.. Not even a kiss!

Why... Did you think kisses came free?

No, for a kiss can be very expensive but SHE says the best payment for a kiss is a smile.

If someone gives you a seat on a bus, you pay them in gratitude by saying "thank you".

You want a Flawless, 3 carat, Brilliant cut Diamond, you pay the Diamond Dealer in money.
Oh dear, no, you DIDN'T pay Retail, did you? Oooh, that's a shame.

"Thank you" is a small gesture but the non saying or neglecting to send a "thank you" card can have quite a dramatic effect. Dear Reader those who don't say it get known for their bad manners and get left off lists, all sorts of lists!

As in the following Tale.

SHE decided that HER Christmas gifts last year to her family (note the small her) and to a couple of friends, were going to be rolls of individually printed Ribbons.

For the family members and the daughter of old friends, SHE chose the colours of the ribbon and the printing. and everyone's ribbons were posted on the same day a very long time BEFORE Christmas.

BiBi dearest's postman obviously delivers to her house very early, as she almost woke HER up the very next day with her "thank you" call (FULL marks BiBi), The friend's daughter took 2 weeks to send a short email saying "she was SO busy that she had had absolutely NO time to email before"... Zoe, one of the nieces and HER God-Daughter took 3 weeks to send a "thank you" card, Charlotte sent a "thank you" letter upon her return from Scotland.

Now, what is interesting is what the lack of manners has set into action... nothing that any of them will ever be privy to... But all interesting.

Email is, in HER opinion, NOT a good or polite enough medium in which to say "thank you" for a present.

SHE thinks it is ok for an informal occasion and maybe just ok if you live in the middle of the boondocks and you are so dis-organised that you don't have a book of 2nd Class stamps at home, then maybe an email is acceptable but presumably THEY sent presents so why not a card to say something pleasant to someone who had made the effort, has thought about them and what might / would be amusing / useful to receive as a gift with which to finish wrapping THEIR children's gifts.

SHE does admit that something (email) IS better than nothing but I've noticed that Gift List for 2012 is 3 names shorter. And I tell you that I make quite sure, when SHE has taken the trouble to give or make ME something extra delicious to eat, I go and find HER and rub my beak on her hand and say "wwoo". SHE knows that I, for one, appreciate HER yummy yum yum and THAT, Dear Reader is why ONE says "thank you", it is verbal recognition that YOU appreciate that someone has done something for you. And the next time you kiss a baby when it is asleep, watch very carefully, for usually they smile.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 6th, 2012.