The Graduate
Another Gift Giving Occasion.36 total reviews
Comment from Bridge
A very interesting story. I loved reading it. I loved the humorous tone of the story. Very creative and very well captured. Thanks for sharing.
With regards
reply by the author on 20-May-2022
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A very interesting story. I loved reading it. I loved the humorous tone of the story. Very creative and very well captured. Thanks for sharing.
With regards
Comment Written 20-May-2022
reply by the author on 20-May-2022
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Thank you very much! Terry.
Comment from Judy Lawless
I was surprised to see you'd posted again, Terry, but I'm glad you did. This is hilarious, and maybe the perfect answer to the unwanted invitations and unacknowledged gifts. I gave up on giving gifts a long time ago, even to my own kids. They all have more money than me and can buy whatever they want. I don't expect gifts from them either, but always appreciate it if I do receive something special. I send gifts if I see something special I know they'll like too, just because, not for any particular occasion.
Well done.
reply by the author on 20-May-2022
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I was surprised to see you'd posted again, Terry, but I'm glad you did. This is hilarious, and maybe the perfect answer to the unwanted invitations and unacknowledged gifts. I gave up on giving gifts a long time ago, even to my own kids. They all have more money than me and can buy whatever they want. I don't expect gifts from them either, but always appreciate it if I do receive something special. I send gifts if I see something special I know they'll like too, just because, not for any particular occasion.
Well done.
Comment Written 20-May-2022
reply by the author on 20-May-2022
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Judy, I had not planned another story, but I guess when the story comes to you, you just have to tell it...LOL, thank you. Terry.
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You're welcome, Terry. Yes, grab it when you can. I haven't posted for nearly two weeks, because, although there are many more memoirs somewhere in my head, I can't seem to get into the writing of any. Maybe today... or maybe not. :)
Comment from Susan Newell
Terry,
That is one of the funniest things I have read in a long time. I never had many relatives that gave me gifts as a child, but I did get cards from three aunts and grandparents. One grandfather would send a small check. But I was taught that you always send a thank you card for any gift received, of any kind, whether you liked it or not. I've done that all my life. Early in my adult life, fate dealt some blows that made for very tight budgets and I limited gift-giving to pre-adolescent children only for Christmas. When finances loosened, I didn't change my ways. However, I have always been prone to giving non-mandatory-occasion gifts, believing they were more meaningful because they were true voluntary gifts. I have also tried to help people with varying amounts of cash when they were really in trouble. I can recall only one thank you card from a woman a few years my junior who had been overwhelmed by my surprise gift, and I think I received one from my nephew's wife.
My advice for your future announcements and invitations? Send a card and forget it . . . or don't respond and they'll stop "reaching out" to you. You can always claim senility.
Sue
reply by the author on 20-May-2022
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Terry,
That is one of the funniest things I have read in a long time. I never had many relatives that gave me gifts as a child, but I did get cards from three aunts and grandparents. One grandfather would send a small check. But I was taught that you always send a thank you card for any gift received, of any kind, whether you liked it or not. I've done that all my life. Early in my adult life, fate dealt some blows that made for very tight budgets and I limited gift-giving to pre-adolescent children only for Christmas. When finances loosened, I didn't change my ways. However, I have always been prone to giving non-mandatory-occasion gifts, believing they were more meaningful because they were true voluntary gifts. I have also tried to help people with varying amounts of cash when they were really in trouble. I can recall only one thank you card from a woman a few years my junior who had been overwhelmed by my surprise gift, and I think I received one from my nephew's wife.
My advice for your future announcements and invitations? Send a card and forget it . . . or don't respond and they'll stop "reaching out" to you. You can always claim senility.
Sue
Comment Written 20-May-2022
reply by the author on 20-May-2022
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Sue, thank you for the six stars! and the suggestion...Senility works for me! Terry.
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You are welcome. LOL Age has its benefits for excuses for lots of things, including bad hair days and just "forgetting."
Comment from Wendy G
So original and creative, Terry! You really should keep writing. This is certainly an excellent social commentary, expressed with wit and humour, and your observations are very astute and so true. I wonder if you will get a reply.... The thing is, we give to those we love or care about - not to strangers who never visit or call. That's why in my special cabinet I have a small dish with some gum nuts, white feathers, a toy figurine, coloured glass and an enamel key-ring hand -made by a five-year old - all given by little ones who love me. More precious than the crystal dishes beside them, and they bring me pleasure.
Maybe now that your precious wife has been gone four years (and I am so sorry to hear that), these relatives/strangers may understand that things are different now, instead of thinking that "It's worth a try - let's see ...."
I would definitely encourage you to keep writing! (Even if I lose my ranking spot ...lol!)
Wendy
reply by the author on 20-May-2022
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So original and creative, Terry! You really should keep writing. This is certainly an excellent social commentary, expressed with wit and humour, and your observations are very astute and so true. I wonder if you will get a reply.... The thing is, we give to those we love or care about - not to strangers who never visit or call. That's why in my special cabinet I have a small dish with some gum nuts, white feathers, a toy figurine, coloured glass and an enamel key-ring hand -made by a five-year old - all given by little ones who love me. More precious than the crystal dishes beside them, and they bring me pleasure.
Maybe now that your precious wife has been gone four years (and I am so sorry to hear that), these relatives/strangers may understand that things are different now, instead of thinking that "It's worth a try - let's see ...."
I would definitely encourage you to keep writing! (Even if I lose my ranking spot ...lol!)
Wendy
Comment Written 20-May-2022
reply by the author on 20-May-2022
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Thanks, I love how you said that...it's worth a try...LOL, Terry.
Comment from Alcreator Litt Dear
This fiction speaks the truth, true feeling and true happening about another gift giving occasion with participation in response; facts are collective and responsive for a record; well said, well done; post god speed more; positively encouraging editing, negatively not wording, forgiving errors of theist-good authors-writers. ALCREATOR LITT DEAR (D R)
reply by the author on 20-May-2022
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This fiction speaks the truth, true feeling and true happening about another gift giving occasion with participation in response; facts are collective and responsive for a record; well said, well done; post god speed more; positively encouraging editing, negatively not wording, forgiving errors of theist-good authors-writers. ALCREATOR LITT DEAR (D R)
Comment Written 19-May-2022
reply by the author on 20-May-2022
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Thank you very much! Terry.
Comment from lyenochka
Lol. I understand your understated rant. I had the same things happen. A child of a previous neighbor sent a high school graduation announcement to which we gave a card with a check, which was cashed and no thank you card was ever sent. (Like many other situations!) Then four/five years later, we got a college announcement from the same gal even with a custom stamp wit her picture on it. I told my millennial daughter about it and that it was a request for money. My daughter (who also doesn't like to write thank-you notes despite all my training in her younger years) simply said that it's not such a request - just information. So I took her advice and did not send a second check.
This long story is to tell you, Terry, that you are now free to ignore all future requests from grand nieces and grand nephews!
In place of a thank card, (thank you)
reply by the author on 20-May-2022
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Lol. I understand your understated rant. I had the same things happen. A child of a previous neighbor sent a high school graduation announcement to which we gave a card with a check, which was cashed and no thank you card was ever sent. (Like many other situations!) Then four/five years later, we got a college announcement from the same gal even with a custom stamp wit her picture on it. I told my millennial daughter about it and that it was a request for money. My daughter (who also doesn't like to write thank-you notes despite all my training in her younger years) simply said that it's not such a request - just information. So I took her advice and did not send a second check.
This long story is to tell you, Terry, that you are now free to ignore all future requests from grand nieces and grand nephews!
In place of a thank card, (thank you)
Comment Written 19-May-2022
reply by the author on 20-May-2022
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Helen, Amen! Thank you, Terry.
Comment from K.L. Rockquemore
Welcome back Terry!
I was pleasantly surprised to see that you have new listing in my inbox.
I think your tank is still full, you have a lot to offer the FS community. Like me, there a ton of new writers and poets on this site lately, some newbie's, some not. The point is, your time, knowledge, and craft are valued ! Thanks for shearing.
reply by the author on 20-May-2022
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Welcome back Terry!
I was pleasantly surprised to see that you have new listing in my inbox.
I think your tank is still full, you have a lot to offer the FS community. Like me, there a ton of new writers and poets on this site lately, some newbie's, some not. The point is, your time, knowledge, and craft are valued ! Thanks for shearing.
Comment Written 19-May-2022
reply by the author on 20-May-2022
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Thanks, sometimes the story just finds you, Terry.
Comment from Shirley McLain
I think you were very creative in the creation of your graduation card. It is nice you have family that thinks about you sometimes. You did a great job. Enjoy your evening. Shirley
reply by the author on 19-May-2022
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I think you were very creative in the creation of your graduation card. It is nice you have family that thinks about you sometimes. You did a great job. Enjoy your evening. Shirley
Comment Written 19-May-2022
reply by the author on 19-May-2022
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Shirley, Thank you! Terry.
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
I hope you did send that! That is ingenius. I'm going to copy this and do the same next time I get an invite from some unknown relative of which I have hundreds, (TRUE) Having parents who both had 7 brothers and sisers each, and they in turn had countless more... and on and on...
I'm sorry you lost your wife just four years ago, it's hard, but it does seem to me, you have a great sense of humour. I enjoyed reading this post. Let us know if you get a reply. Warm hugs, Sandra xx
reply by the author on 19-May-2022
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I hope you did send that! That is ingenius. I'm going to copy this and do the same next time I get an invite from some unknown relative of which I have hundreds, (TRUE) Having parents who both had 7 brothers and sisers each, and they in turn had countless more... and on and on...
I'm sorry you lost your wife just four years ago, it's hard, but it does seem to me, you have a great sense of humour. I enjoyed reading this post. Let us know if you get a reply. Warm hugs, Sandra xx
Comment Written 19-May-2022
reply by the author on 19-May-2022
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Sandra, thank you very much! Terry
Comment from royowen
Just love, I vhildren might have made the difference, you and agree on one thing, wife's are very useful, Elaine is far more more thoughtful than myself, I wrote a birthday poem for my kids/grands/grands, some for friends, but if Elaine wasn't here, I'd forget. So, I relate. Love the lists, like surveys, well done, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 19-May-2022
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Just love, I vhildren might have made the difference, you and agree on one thing, wife's are very useful, Elaine is far more more thoughtful than myself, I wrote a birthday poem for my kids/grands/grands, some for friends, but if Elaine wasn't here, I'd forget. So, I relate. Love the lists, like surveys, well done, blessings Roy
Comment Written 19-May-2022
reply by the author on 19-May-2022
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Roy, thank you very much! Terry.
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Good job