Thank you

Two simple words which can speak volumes.

If you're like me, you lament the demise of the thank-you note. Back in the day, when I was growing up, they were the norm. My mother was a stickler for the handwritten, timely thank-you note. She insisted upon them, and we (my younger sister and I) complied--not always readily and rarely enthusiastically, especially as we got older, but we did them. We even wrote them completely by hand--no "cheating" by using a preprinted card.
Get a gift from Aunt Millie for your birthday? Write a thank-you note:

Dear Aunt Millie,
Thank you very much for the $10. I'm not sure what I'll use it for yet, but I hope it will be something fun. Thank you for coming to my party. It was fun.
Love,

My great aunt Millie took it to a whole new level: she'd write a thank-you note for the thank-you note from me!

This early training came in handy as my sister and I became professional women.
Have a good, or even just a so-so job interview? Write a thank-you note:

Dear Ms. Williams,
Thank you so much for taking the time to give me the opportunity to learn more about Blahblah Company. I hope our discussion revealed my interest in and enthusiasm for the position of ______. I look forward to hearing from you, and to the possibility of working with your dynamic team.
Cordially,

And, of course, for us, social bread and butter notes are second nature.
Stay with an out-of-town friend for a couple of nights? Write a thank-you note, (and also send a hostess gift):

Dear Pat,
Thanks so much for putting us up (or putting up with us!) last weekend. Your home, and the comfortable bed at the end of our exhausting show days were just what we needed to relax and unwind. I hope you'll enjoy the flowers--'just a small token of our appreciation.
Love,

As mothers ourselves now, we insist our sons write them too. But, in today's world of instant, yet somehow less personal contact, the thank-you note seems destined to go the way of dial phones; quaint relics of another, distant time.

Call me old, or old-fashioned, but I still think manners matter.

In my business, I always try to exhibit good manners, which includes "going the extra mile" in customer service (offering to replace damaged products, even if the damage is the buyer's fault; paying return postage; accommodating special orders, including special color requirement, etc.) I'm motivated by my belief that it's the right thing to do, despite current practice which says it's not necessary any longer. I also make it a point to follow up with each person who makes a specific request, or suggestion about how they might work with me:

Dear Dr. Grant,
It was a pleasure meeting you at the NBTF. I was intrigued by our conversation about the possibility of having my art shown at the University gallery. To refresh your memory about my work, please visit my online photo gallery: http://picasaweb.google.com/camida56/TheAncestressSeriesByMichelleDavisPetelinz. I look forward to hearing from you, and to working with you.
Sincerely,

I've bowed to the current times; my business thank-yous are in email form, mainly because it offers me the opportunity to include links, and to respond more quickly. However, I've noticed I rarely receive thank-you notes of any kind.

Am I just a dinosaur? Is formally thanking someone hopelessly passe?

What's your position in the thank-you note debate?

Please comment.

Thank you.