Thank You Notes are on My List!!!!!

I know that might sound silly!
Who invented thank-you notes? I would really be interested in the history of them, so if someone knows, please enlighten!

OK, so thank-you notes are not ALWAYS on my list. They're only on my list under certain circumstances.

Yesterday, I dropped off some food for some of our friends from church. They had experienced a death in the family last week. I walked in and saw the widow and her children (who are all grown) sitting a table littered with lists and thank-you notes. I thought how un-offended I would be if I never got one of those notes. Should families in such stressful situations be required to send thank-you notes for flowers and meals? I don't know . . . perhaps it is a chore that will take the family's mind off things for the moment. But it is my opinion that the principle of the situation stands.

Another time that I believe there ought to be some grace given when it comes to thank-you notes is after someone has a baby! Getting thank-you notes out after showers that happen before the baby are not such a problem. But after that baby gets here! Whew! I think that up to one year after the baby is born should be an acceptable time to send out thank-you notes.