From Main Street to my street.

Gail Moss was one of the talented women in the “Women in Film” class I gave the other night …  I taught my own lesson about the importance of writing ‘thank you notes’.

I told the class “if your handwriting isn’t great, I think it’s OK to type it on the computer, and cut & paste it into a card.”

We did a practice session in class, and Gail read hers out loud.

Much to my delight she went home, re-typed it on a piece of stationery I’d made available, and then added her own clever touches.  She used a beige

piece of paper that had its own substance and heft.  She took pinking shears on one side of it and cut it down to fit the interior of the card.  Basically, she

improved upon the bland suggestion I’d had to “cut & paste”.

I also noticed she’d followed my ideas on how to structure a “Thank You” card.

*  The first paragraph should take us back to the moment or how you felt when you heard the lecturer … had the interview… or opened the gift.

*   The second paragraph:  praise the person who interviewed you/gave you the gift.  Find something nice to say about them.  Share how their “gift” or talent

made you feel, think, reassess life — and how their talents are unique.

*  Third paragraph:  Take us back into the “here & now”, and remind the person whom you’re writing to about how you hope to forge a relationship

with them in the future.

Gail did all that, and she nailed it.  A perfect letter.  And I’m so proud.