Table of Contents
Contents at a Glance
1 Birthdays 1 Birthdays come, and birthdays go, but you can make someones special day even more special.
2 Anniversaries 15 In an age of quickie marriages and even quicker divorces, its important to honor the commitments that lastincluding your own.
3 Weddings and Engagements 27 Who doesnt love a couple in love? Here are some ways to show your support as they take this important life step together.
4 Its All New to Me 39 Fresh starts and new beginnings make us all feel young again. Celebrating a new baby, new home, or new job makes you a part of it, too.
5 Coming of Age 53 Children are like sponges; they absorb a lot of information in their first dozen or so years. Celebrate with them.
6 Graduations 67 Graduation isnt an end; its a beginning of the next stage in life. Offer your favoritegrad congratulations for all of his or her hard work!
7 Shining Moments 81 Whether you got a promotion or made it to the finish line in a local marathon, nothing adds to your satisfaction in a personal accomplishment like other people recognizing you for it.
8 Dont Forget to Say Thank You 93 When people give you a gift or do you a favor, responding with a few words of gratitude is a must.
9 Get Well and Encouragement 111 If youve ever been down in the dumps or laid up in bed, you know how uplifting those cards and notes can be.
10 Sympathy and Condolence 125 Death and serious illness are facts of life that are difficult to write about. Heres advice about how to offer your love and support.
11 Other Losses 141 Life is full of losses, from getting a divorce to losing a job or a home. A few words of sympathy can make all the difference.
12 Apologies and Forgiveness 153 Nothing is sadder than two people who arent speaking to each other. Take the time to make things right again in writing.
13 End-of-the-Year Holidays 165 Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Years Day, or all four, its the most popular holiday season for cards and a chance to touch base.
14 Honor Your Mother and Father 177 There isnt a parent, stepparent, or grandparent alive who wont appreciate reading your words on their special day.
15 Other Holidays 189 Are you Irish or in love? Do you enjoy coloring eggs or dressing up in scary costumes? You may want to send a note on these holidays, too.
Appendixes
A E-Mail Dos and Donts 203
B Resources 207
Index 211
Introduction
At one time, letter writing was considered an art. It was also a necessity,being the only form of long-distance communication. People used flowery language and wrote in elaborate cursive on thick vellum paper. Artists like the sixteenth-century Dutch painter Vermeer even painted portraits of people reading and writing letters.
Then along came the telephone, and that changed everything.
It took a while, but by the last quarter of the twentieth century, few people were actually writing letters anymore. And why bother, when you could reach out and touch someone by phone, as the AT&T sloganurged? Add to that the recent explosion of e-mails and instant and text messaging, and not many people pick up a pen nowadays. And even when we do, its often to sign our name on a commercial greeting card. So for the most part, were either communicating electronically or with someone elses words.
Its not too late to start writing again. If you wrote letters once, youll find its like riding a bicycleyou never forget how. For those of you who never wrote lettersnows a good time to start.
You say youre not a wordsmith? In this day of e-mails and store-bought greeting cards, not many people are. But a personal note can speak volumes.Nothing compares with a few lines written from the heart.
This book helps you write sincere, heartfelt notes for every occasion, from birthdays to bar mitzvahs. In the process, we hope you rediscover the lost art of letter writing.
How This Book Is Organized
This book is organized into 15 chapters that cover every type of short, personal letter youll ever need to write. Each chapter contains dozens of sample notes you can use just as they are or adapt to fit your friends, family, or a particular situation. At the end of each chapter, we offer a list of inspirational and humorous quotes to spice up your correspondence.
Two appendixes at the end of the book discuss e-mail etiquette and list further resources you can peruse to help you write better notes.
Some Things to Help You Out Along the Way
Each chapter also includes sidebars with quick tips and handy hints to improve your letter-writing skills. Heres what to look for:
The Write Way
These suggestions help you hone your letter-writing skills and write memorable letters.
Greeting Goofs
These boxes tell you what not to write by pointing out common letter-writingblunders.
Acknowledgments
Veronica and Marylou would like to thank the following people: Alison Fargis of The Stonesong Press; Paul Dinas of Alpha Books; and our friends and families who, without realizing it, provided great material for this book. Youre all in here. Thanks for the memories.
Trademarks
All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be or are suspected of being trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized.Alpha Books and Penguin Group (USA) Inc. cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.
Chapter 1
Birthdays
A birthday is a birthday, right? It doesnt matter whose it is. Wrong! It makes all the difference in the world. After all, you wouldnt send the same card to your elderly Aunt Adeline as you would to your friend Alexis who has a tattoo of a butterfly on her lower back and a ring in her navel. (Or would you?) More than 60 percent of the everyday cards sent each year in the United States are birthday cards, and senders add a personal message 70 percent of the time. If not knowing what to say is whats holding you back, the samples in this chapter can help you wish that someone special a happy birthday.
Let Age Be Your Gauge
Whether your birthday wishes are for a hip teen, a hippie 40-year-old, or a toddler with diapers on his hips, one of these notesor your personalized versionshould be a perfect fit.
To Toddlers
I heard a secret that you turned 2 today. Is it true? What a big boy you are! I hope your day is filled with thrills and fun surprises. Happy 2nd birthday!
The Write Way
Keep it short and sweet when writing to young children. They cant read by themselves, and words like big boy or rhyming words sound good when parents read them aloud.
Can you count to three? Because thats how old you are today! Lets try it. One two three! Three cheers for the birthday girl! Happy, happy, happy birthday!
Youre 5! Hooray! You get 5 candles on your birthday cake! How great is that? Guess what? I think Ill send you 5 hugs and kisses, too. Have a happy birthday!
