Grandmothers live for thank you notes — receiving them, writing them, not-so-subtly inquiring whether one might be forthcoming.
Jennifer in Michigan received this gracious note of thanks after a Christmas visit to her Grandma. Cue the violins, please…

(If you can’t read Grandma cursive, just mouse over the note for a transcription.)
related: Really, Mom, you shouldn’t have

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Joel in Glendale, California was raised in a religious Christian family, and apparently someone let it slip to his grandmother (bless her heart!) that he’s — gasp!— an atheist. Aaaaand…let the backhanded compliments begin!

Dear Joel, I have heard that you say you’re an athesis [sic]. I don’t believe that because you have so many Christian qualities. [...]

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Gift-giving is what makes Christmas the passive-aggressive’s favorite time of year. It’s a priceless opportunity to show your friends and family how you really feel about them…with a bow on top!

related: putting the “x” in “x-mas”

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“Oh boy,” thought Emily in New York, when she saw this mini-drama unfold on her newsfeed. “I can’t even imagine; if my dad found out that I was engaged via Facebook, there would be hell to pay.”  (Luckily, she says, “my dad has no idea how to use Facebook, or as he calls it, ‘the [...]

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As Lachlan in Melbourne points out, for 4 and 6 years old these kids have pretty good writing skills (with the exception of that little “hyph:-colon”). But lawdy, kids today and their language!

Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh…

And in Philadelphia (as spotted by Tash, who is not a yuppie)…

related: the right to bear fruit

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Writes Ben in Snohomish, Washington: “We visit my aunt the same amount we visit the rest of our extended family, but for some reason she takes it personally that we don’t do so daily. She took the occasion of my son’s 11th birthday to take a shot at us.”

related: my condolences on your birthday

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Shortly after the birth of her new nephew (a.k.a “Gee-Gee-Boo”), Liz in Waltham, Mass. received this note (channeling grandmothers everywhere) from the precocious 7-year-old daughter of her other sister. Writes Liz: “I love that she is simultaneously trying to guilt trip me into having a kid while not-so-subtly hinting that Baby G should move up [...]

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victoria in foster city, california, says her brother taped this note to one of the kitchen cabinets in their mother’s house after her boyfriend took his own frozen chicken out of little brother’s grasp the night before. (just to clarify that mess of pronouns: it was victoria’s boyfriend’s chicken. not that it really matters.)

“he’s 17 [...]

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My Grandma Cookie is 85 today! Won’t you join me in wishing her love, joy and a good day?

And please, she’s got early bird reservations at the hibachi restaurant at 6 p.m. (Florida time, natch), so step on it, won’tcha?
related: an occasion that blue mountain arts has yet to animate
extra credit: the blue mountain arts [...]

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writes ashley in thousand oaks, california: “a few years ago, my grandmother and i were sharing a bathroom, and sometimes i would use her towels. one day i opened the drawer and found this note. of course, i had to take a picture!”

and then…well, then there’s this.

related: how i “did” my grandma

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“My family moved out of the house we grew up in seven years ago, and our old neighbor sent us this Christmas card,” writes Gloria in Los Angeles. (Gloria herself seems to have made a particularly strong impression.)

Meanwhile, in Providence, R.I., Jessica’s aunt seems to be doing her best to put the “X” in “X-mas.”

related: [...]

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“As a college student used to her freedom, I’m sometimes gone for days at a time when I’m home for the summer,” explains Jesse from Gurnee, Illinois, admitting that during this time, her betta fish, Freddie Mercury, tends to go unfed.
“My 14-year old-sister has shown him mercy a a few times,” Jesse says, and admirably, [...]

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“My dear, sweet grandmother lived a long, full life and passed away recently at the age of 88,” writes Mark in Denton, Texas, but he still has the valentine his “Memaw” sent him back in 2005, during his freshman year of college.
Before the cockles of your heart get too warmed, however, take note: says Mark, [...]

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related: seriously!?!

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nadia received this letter from her boyfriend’s cousin, amy, who recently relocated with her boyfriend from saskatoon to victoria, canada…and have been shacking up with nadia and her boyfriend since then. over the past month, roomie relations have become a bit strained, to say the least.
“we had to send a stray cat she was harboring [...]

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you gotta love my grandma cookie — she’s always looking out for my figure!

(this is why the seder calls for the drinking of four cups of wine.)
related: too many
extra credit: our stomachs, ourselves [heeb]

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Carlina in Texas is close with her parents, but she’s been having a bit of a rough time lately. Apparently Carlina’s mother has grown tired of her daughter’s apathy/hostility/general malaise, and slipped this classic mom note under her door.

If that note didn’t remind you of your own mom, perhaps you can relate to this one [...]

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From Amy in Ocean Pines, Maryland, who explains: “I have had a problem with the people I live with (namely my husband and sister) who do not understand the concept that a dryer full of lint is a fire hazard [!!!]”

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This card came with a box of homemade mandelbrot from my very own passive-aggressive Jewish grandmother.

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