![\"\"](\"https:\/\/nosmallthing.net\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/giftcard-300x300.jpg\")
Many years ago, I remember an oddly endearing rom com, \u201cYou\u2019ve Got Mail,\u201d about a pairing between two business competitors that starts over an AOL connection.<\/p>\nMany years ago, I remember an oddly endearing rom com, \u201cYou\u2019ve Got Mail,\u201d about a pairing between two business competitors that starts over an AOL connection.<\/p>\n
In the ensuing years, between match.com, OK Cupid, eHarmony and others, this premise seems positively quaint.<\/p>\n
These days, a high percentage of couples meet through an online dating app. The reference to anticipating making a match being reflected by the excitement one used to get at the prospects of receiving a notice in the \u201cmail\u201d also feels like a relic.<\/p>\n
Whether in email or snail mail, these methods for sending or receiving is, apparently, not fast enough for most of us.<\/p>\n
We don\u2019t wait eagerly to receive checks anymore because of direct deposit. Most of us defer to our Facebook or LinkedIn feeds for birthday greetings, ignoring the fact that, instead of receiving an individually selected card, our friends sent a line after receiving an automatic reminder of the event from the platform.<\/p>\n
Yes, mail delivery has gotten slow. The cost of postage has gone up. There are many reasons why relying on home delivery might not represent a loss to pine over, but I do miss some of the excitement about checking my mail box, looking out for something I\u2019ve been waiting for.<\/p>\n
There are few things still being sent by mail that gives me this feeling of anticipation like receiving a gift card in the mail.<\/p>\n
They come from my bank for accruing points for exercising my credit card and involve a process of \u201cselecting\u201d a restaurant or retailer where I\u2019d like give my patronage.<\/p>\n
I usually like any opportunity to choose something anyway. I like the idea of making my opinion count even if it\u2019s only choosing where to redeem my points.<\/p>\n
I could make arrangements to receive cash back, but, to me, there is something wonderful about receiving something tangible as a thank you.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll buy new underwear or toilet paper or books or bubble bath, practical things or small indulgences.<\/p>\n
I seem to get special pleasure from thinking that the purchase is free or doesn\u2019t require me to dip into savings or add to the amount owed on next month\u2019s credit card statement.<\/p>\n
Whatever I buy with my gift card is like a bonus, an unexpected boon, like a double-yolked egg or a \u201cbuy one, get one free\u201d promotion.<\/p>\n
I love how I get an email alert from my bank when the card is on its way and notice more spring in my step when I pad downstairs to my building\u2019s mail box when I believe my card might come \u201cany day.\u201d<\/p>\n
And then, when the card arrives, in a plain white envelope, gummy-glued to a standard 8 1\/2\u201d x 11\u201d cardboard flyer and read \u201cYour gift card has arrived,\u201d I can\u2019t help but smile.<\/p>\n
I work hard for some things I value, like maintaining good relationships with people I don\u2019t see often or composing an article I hope to publish.<\/p>\n
But some things just seem to come to me: a beautiful, clear fall day;\u00a0 finding something I\u2019ve been looking for at the perfect time; an offer to share a meal.<\/p>\n
I have the conscious intention to say \u201cThank you\u201d whenever I come across a simple thing that especially touches me. But, like the words on the cardboard flyer that accompanies the means to my modest retail spree, \u201cYour gift card has arrived,\u201d my feelings of gratitude are reinforced by the notion that a \u201cgift\u201d is coming to me.<\/p>\n
Thinking that I\u2019m always receiving gifts is no small thing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Many years ago, I remember an oddly endearing rom com, \u201cYou\u2019ve Got Mail,\u201d about a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7251,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[632],"tags":[676,678,677,679,675,54,680,383],"class_list":["post-7250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-weekly-blog","tag-dating-app","tag-direct-deposit","tag-eharmony","tag-gift-card","tag-match-com","tag-no-small-thing","tag-thank-you","tag-youve-got-mail","grateful-dozen-winning-luck"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n