One of the things I like about the holiday season is being able to thank, with a gift, the people who have helped me during the year. I'm talking about the person who delivers my morning paper, the mailman, the UPS guy. I'm also talking about the people in publishing with whom I've worked. In past years, I've sent out gifts whose content related to an about-to-be-published book of mine. In some instances, I put in much time, effort, and expense to do so. But I came to realize that few of the recipients even got the point of the gifts, much less bothered with a thank you.

So this year I made a charitable contribution in the names of all of these people, then sent them cards to this effect. To date, I haven't received a single thank you, but at least my gift is going for a good cause.

That is some solace for what seems to be a decline in manners. I was taught that when I received a gift, I owed the giver a thank you. This could be a note, a phone call, or, now, an email. It's very easy. Yet friends I talk with have found the same thing, that few of the people they send gifts to acknowledge them.

What's wrong with us? Are our lives too busy? Do we get so many gifts that no single one matters? Think about it, please. DO something about it. If you receive a gift this season, thank the giver. It's the right thing to do.