Writing Retirement or Thank You Cards
Sometimes it’s easier to buy someone a retirement thank you gift, similar to http://www.thebasketspot.com/thank-you-c-40.html, than to put your feelings in writing, especially when you are trying to express sympathy for someone’s loss. Although a thank you or retirement gift of flowers or a donation to a favorite charity is a respectful thought, it means so much more to a grieving person to also include a short, handwritten note reflecting on their feelings and sharing your thoughts.
There are several books available online, at the library, or at most major bookstores that offer templates for thank you or retirement writing. You might refer to “Easy Eloquence: Sample Thank You Notes and Sympathy Cards for Every Occasion” by Sharon Paskoff. This book is structured like a reference book, so you can look up card ideas organized by topic. Another book to try might be Florence Isaacs’ “Just A Note To Say…The Perfect Words For Every Occasion”.
Use these books to get you started, but if you can, include a remembrance of the loved one in your note, or a specific follow-up offer to get together with the person that’s retiring. Instead of writing, “Let me know if there’s anything you need”, for example, you might say, “I’ll call you next week and set up a time to bring you a retirement gift, like http://www.thebasketspot.com/retirement-c-61.html”. This will really make someone feel loved and taken care of.