Friday, January 30, 2009

Thank You - Thank You Very Much (In an Elvis Kind of Voice)

When ThatManILove and I left Pennsylvania to come home, we found some relationships hard to leave.

Over a three month period, the employees at the Holiday Inn Express had become a second family to ThatManILove while he was residing in their hotel. I thank God for them every day. How do you express your gratitude in a situation like that, when you know the people that have served you, but you don’t know them well enough to buy them a personal present? We discussed it, and made our decision. Before we left town, we decided to give them each a card, and inside it, a small monetary blessing.

Today, we got a beautiful thank you card in the mail, which in itself was blessing enough, and one we didn't even expect! In the card, each one of them wrote a message and signed the card. Wow! I teared up a little, and then I laughed until I cried.

Here’s what they said.

Your generosity was beyond belief. We thought you might like to know what some of us did with our gifts.
D wrote: I bought a load of wood, took my husband to dinner, and bought us both a hangover for New Year’s Day! Thanks!
R wrote:
Thanks for the gift. I got a new windshield. See you soon! Thank You!
A1 wrote: Thanks so much for the card! It helped my infant daughter and I a lot! (She’s a single mom.)
A2 wrote: First month’s rent! Thanks so much for the gift! It really was such a blessing! Take care. (She’s a sweet young lady, going to college, moving from the country into town.)

And then, one that cracked me up:
L wrote: Thank you so much! I used the money for a muzzle for my husband, a gag for my son, and a love seat for the dog! Thanks for the peace and quiet!

I think it's the best thank you card we've ever received. I bet ThatManILove will agree when he sees it.

23 comments:

Belle said...

What an incredibly thoughtful thank you card!

♥ Braja said...

Oh that famous saying of Elvis' is my favorite, and I can hear it now. I say it regularly :)

What a lovely thing...it really is the little touches isn't it? Hey Janie you comin' to India?

Akum said...

Wow!! That was really sweet!

Vodka Mom said...

you two are incredible people, and are true "Christians" in every sense of the word.


wow.

Sunny said...

Lovely!

Ash said...

I'm totally teary eyed. You guys out-sweeted each other - you for the generous gifts, them for their gratitude.

Thanks for restoring my faith a little.

Honest, that was better than a cup of coffee.

XOXO, Em

That Janie Girl said...

Belle - wasn't it? Few people take the time to "write" anymore!

Braja - Why, thank you for the invitation! I have plenty of FFM, surely I can scrape up enough to fly over! I'd love to (not that I haven't been hinting for a week now...) I can see it now...US Bloggers Meet At Braja's In India For Ayurvedic Treatments and Visit Baby Cows. I am SO there!

A.K. - it was sweet! Thanks for visiting!

Vodka Mom - Like I could ever control your mouth. Love ya girl.

Sunny - I know, huh?

Em - Awwww. I know, I cried. Seriously.

That Janie Girl said...

Hey, A.K...you changed your sign-in, so I didn't know it was you! Please forgive me for not recognizing!

Akum said...

Hi Janie,
Thanks for the inspiring comment... You rock!!!

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Now, that's a person who knows what to do with a gift...

Ellie

Michelle said...

Janie that is so wonderful. That you touched people enough for them to touch you back!!!

And i mean that in the thank you card touchie feelie way not the feel you up kinda way!!!

Before i have foot in mouth disease I just want to say:

HAPPY FRIDAY and I LOVE YOU!!!

Coffee with Cathy said...

Another reminder that so often the things we do that we don't even think about mean so much to somebody else. Thank you.

Jennifer and Sandi said...

Hahhahahha bought us both a hangover!! CLASSIC

That was very very nice of you guys! What a great idea!!

Have a super weekend!
- Jennifer

Far Side of Fifty said...

How incredibly nice of you, and them to share what they did with their tip..and a hand written card..that is really something nowadays! :)

HoodChick said...

How wonderful. I traveled some over the summer, but not as much as some of my cohorts. I don't know how they do it, but to stay some place with wonderful people has to be some blessing when you're away from your loved ones.

jill jill bo bill said...

Girl, y'all make us Texans look GOOD! Those were great thank you's from TMIL's caregivers.

Tami Weingartner said...

Oh dear...I think "L" and myself have a great deal in common....sounds like what I would do with the money!

Julie D said...

OMG, that is fabulous! You did a great thing, good job Janie!

Lilly said...

You did do a great thing and the rewards of getting such thanks back is even better still. Truly lovely!

Anonymous said...

That's exactly the kind of things one should do to show a great big thank you. That thank you note you received in return is priceless. Cherish the love.

Anonymous said...

That is very cool.

thisisme said...

Gorgeous. So very you to give them all an individual card and gift, and so lovely to share what they did and that last one cracked me up

Gretchen said...

That says an awful lot about that man you love! Also a lot about how people here in PA feel about generous, wonderful people. :)