HOW TO WRITE A CONDOLENCE NOTE.

QUOTE from Martha Stewart: "My new motto is, when you're through changing, you're through."


Ruth Ann and I are getting to the age when many of our family, friends, and acquaintances are passing away. Which means we are sending more and more sympathy cards. One of the hardest things for me to do is to find the appropriate words to write on the card. But the Reader's Digest had an article entitled, "How to Write a Condolence Note." So I LEARNED some helpful tips for what to write.

Here is the article.

What you say and how much you say depend on how close you are to the deceased or to the family. But, as with a thank-you note, a few well-chosen handwritten sentences will generally suffice.

Phrases like "I'm so sorry," "He was the model of the man I hope to become," and "I'll miss her too," will help you connect with the recipient. According to the Emily Post Institute, you needn't restrict yourself to expressions of sympathy. If you have a favorite anecdote about the deceased or some particular memory you cherish, by all means, include it.

But AVOID COMMENTS like "She's in a better place," "It was God's will," and "At least he isn't suffering anymore."
Leave that for the bereaved to say - when they're ready.

(These are some good words for me to remember when I write the next one.)

HUMOR for today. This is a good one.

It is called "PERIOD."

THE KINDERGARTEN CLASS HAD A HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT TO FIND OUT ABOUT SOMETHING EXCITING AND RELATE IT TO THE CLASS THE NEXT DAY

WHEN THE TIME CAME FOR THE LITTLE KIDS TO GIVE THEIR REPORTS, THE TEACHER WAS CALLING ON THEM ONE AT A TIME.

SHE WAS RELUCTANT TO CALL UPON LITTLE JOHNNY, KNOWING THAT HE SOMETIMES COULD BE A BIT CRUDE. BUT EVENTUALLY HIS TURN CAME.

LITTLE JOHNNY WALKED TO THE FRONT OF THE CLASS, AND WITH A PIECE OF CHALK, MADE A SMALL WHITE DOT ON THE BLACKBOARD, THEN SAT BACK DOWN. WELL THE TEACHER COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT JOHNNY HAD IN MIND FOR HIS REPORT ON SOMETHING EXCITING, SO SHE ASKED HIM JUST WHAT THAT WAS.

"IT'S A PERIOD," REPORTED JOHNNY.

"WELL I CAN SEE THAT," SHE SAID. "BUT WHAT IS SO EXCITING ABOUT A PERIOD."

"DAMNED IF I KNOW," SAID JOHNNY, "BUT THIS MORNING MY SISTER SAID SHE MISSED ONE. THEN DADDY HAD A HEART ATTACK, MOMMY FAINTED AND THE MAN NEXT DOOR SHOT HIMSELF."