Thank you; no no, thank you!

Where do you stand on "thank you"? Is it so abused that it no longer means anything?  Is it rote? Think about the check out counter:  I arrive, they say, "How are you?" I reply, "Fine thanks, and you?"; I pay, they say, "thank you"; they give me change, I say, "thank you"; they wish me a good day, I say, "thank you".  I think I say, "thank you" 3 or 4 times an encounter. Don't mention the restaurant experience: here's your seat, here's water, meal, mayonnaise for my fries, more soda, check, change, have a good night! How much is too much? Or, how much is not enough?  Has it become meaningless? And as such, are we to the point that we no longer say it when it's appropriate?

In my time at home, off work, I've been "doing things" for others in the neighborhood.  Now I want it to be clear, that initially this was out of the goodness of my heart with no strings attached -- as they say. After all, don't they say that if you do a good deed while looking for something in return -- it's not a good deed?  Well I'm not lookin'!  Unless you are referring to "thanks".  Then I admit, yes, I was looking for something in return.

I grew a garden this year and had my own bumper crop of lettuce and pumpkins.  On Autumnal Equinox I shared my pumpkins with the neighbors along with a card wishing them a happy autumn.  I even ran one short so I  ran out and bought one at a store for a neighbor as I didn't want her to feel left out.  She did not thank me until my elder neighbor next door called her on it.  (Who I might add thanked me promptly). One took three weeks.  Another to this day has never thanked me...never acknowledged it. I would have chocked it up to age but the even younger, early-20s couple next door thanked me on the same day that I delivered the pumpkins.  During the summer a friend and I weeded his neglected garden and this winter after a heavy snow fall, that friend (the only person with a snow blower) snow blowed his drive.  There was no mistaking who cleared his drive.  Not a word.

I don't think "thanks" is too much to ask.  Isn't it really the first interaction we were taught as children, after "Hi!" and "Good-bye!"? It is a common courtesy.  Say it! Who raised this guy!?  Actually, I know and I find it difficult to believe that she missed this installment of 'Child-rearing 101'. I think if we said it when it's appropriate the word would begin to carry the meaning it was intended, at all other times.  "Thanks, I really appreciate you clearing my empty plate so, I don't have to stare at it. Really!" "Thanks! I can't tell you how I appreciate you helping me unload my groceries, really!" "Thanks! I love that you included me in the joy you experienced by growing your garden! Really!"

All we need is "thanks"; wouldn't the world -- or in this case the neighborhood -- be a nicer place?