<p>Our son merely wrote them nice thank you notes AND visits them several times each yr at school. He says that they seem to greatly enjoy talking with him and getting these informal annual updates.</p>
<p>That's really what we want. Any note that is personalized to us and our experiences with you will be treasured. I have received apple gifts, cookies, fudge, mugs and teas. All are appreciated and gratefully accepted but the things that matter most are these notes. I have a file of them and it always makes me happy to look at them. The fudge...I guess you could say I have "filed" that away too but when I catch sight of it in the mirror I am not as happy. ;-)</p>
<p>Oh...and here is something often overlooked which for the vast majority of you is way down the line but...please, if you can, invite us to your weddings. We will be thrilled that we made an impact that you remembered years after your high school graduation. That's the sort of thing that keeps us connected to you and even though we may not always come it will mean the world that you thought to include us. I don't mean the whole faculty either, I mean those teachers who you really cared about. It's a great way to tell us that you still care.</p>
<p>I agree with the above post. It's been more than 20 years since I graduated from high school, but I still send Christmas cards to my three recommenders (and favorite teachers). They tell me that they love to keep up with how their students are doing.</p>
<p>historymom - you did it again - bravo!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the terrific advice and suggestions!</p>
<p>My daughter is going to give cookies to her guidance counsellor soon - he's done the most for her in this first go around. Home baked cookies show you appreciate them and care. To me, gift cards feel too much like cash.</p>
<p>"The fudge...I guess you could say I have "filed" that away too but when I catch sight of it in the mirror I am not as happy. ;-)"</p>
<p>Har!Har!</p>
<p>After we had word back that the letters had been received I made a main dish that traveled well which the teachers and guidance counselor loved. I also made it for one of the office staff who had gone out of her way to help out. One of the teachers told my son when he requested a recommendation that she wants him to come back and talk to her classes when he is in town. It is really nice, historymom, to know that wedding invitations are appreciated if someone has made an impact. Years ago at my own wedding which was in my college town, I would have loved to invite a professor whom I treasured, but didn't because I thought it might seem inappropriate. I still regret she wasn't there as she knew both my husband and I well. I can foresee my son being in touch with his letter writers for many years.</p>
<p>The last name of the teacher who wrote my rec is Jones, so I bought her a lot of Jones soda; plus a thank you card.</p>