Jerry Hallanger sits at one of his nine vintage typewriters — all in excellent condition — and begins his hand-to-heart connection with his aunts Hazel and Margaret.
“I want to thank you and Margaret for giving me books to read as Christmas presents when I was a kid,” types the retired LAPD sergeant from his Agoura Hills home. “To this day, I am an avid reader and passionate book collector.
“I learned to type in my sophomore year at Roosevelt High School, and I’ve been typing ever since.
“Both you and Margaret spent your entire careers as school teachers. Well, here’s one student that you both left your mark on. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Across town, Erica Gerard Di Bona sits at her golden vintage typewriter, and writes a thank you note to the man who takes out her garbage every Wednesday morning.
It’s one of a thousand thank you notes and letters she has written this year to waiters and waitresses, sales people and “anybody I run into in my daily life to let them know I saw them and appreciated them,” she says.
All typewritten — hand-to-heart letters that makes her pause and slow down, allow her to put more thought into her words than an email or a text. It’s slow cooking versus fast food, she says. No comparison.
The day after Christmas, Sunday, December 26, is “National Thank You Note Day.” I thought if you’re looking for a New Year’s resolution you might consider “thank you.” We can sure use a few more of them, plus they’re good for your health.
A Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine study found people spreading thank you’s around swear they felt a dopamine rush — that feel good chemical in our bodies linked to pleasurable experiences.
Another study found that people practicing gratitude experience fewer aches and pains. Who doesn’t want fewer aches and pains?
When we were kids growing up and someone did something nice for us, what did our parents always asked us — “What do you say?”
“Thank you.” It’s been around in various languages since the 12th century, and it’s free.
“It’s my way of trying to put a little goodness back in the universe,” says Gerard Di Bona, who has written a book “The Power of Thank You,” yet to be published.
They love the idea, but thank you books, she’s being told by publishers, don’t typically sell. Evil, though, is doing great.
“I was 7 when I found out my dad was a Holocaust survivor, and that evil existed in the world,” she says. “Unfortunately, it hasn’t gone away. Every time I send a thank you letter, I feel it’s a little spark of brightness that can offset a little of the evil.”
Her typewritten letters are being well received. She’s now getting back thank you letters for her thank you letters.
After getting out of the Marine Corps, Hallanger spent the next 37 years of his life helping protect this city. He’s had more than his share of evil to deal with, and now all he wants to do is recognize the positives from his life and single them out for a thank you letter.
“I know my aunts will appreciate what I wrote and that I used a typewriter. It’s just so much more personable, especially for people with lousy handwriting.”
January is “National Thank You Month,” so you’ve got 31 days to try it out as your New Year’s resolution. Who knows? Maybe, this one will stick.
Thank you.
Dennis McCarthy’s column runs on Sunday. He can be reached at dmccarthynews@gmail.com.