I’m excited to announce that I learned something new in writing today’s post.  Most of us are familiar with the term “Greetings and Salutations” as being the opening words of written correspondence.  Do you know what the term is for closing a letter or note? It’s valediction, based on a Latin derivative to say farewell.  It can also be termed a complimentary close.

 I’m seeing a trend in the way thirty-somethings complimentary close their notes or add above their signature on cards: “Cheers!”  I’m not sure how or when the trend of using a drinking toast for this purpose started. But for whatever reason, I am not fond of it. But then again, I’m well past my 30’s.

My grandmother Elizabeth’s standard valediction was, “Oceans of love.” Now THAT has depth. (No pun intended.) Because I liked the sound of it, I used that closing phrase for many years.

My son Tim varied his endings based on to whom he was writing. To his sister he closed with, “Smiles.”  In writing to his friends he wrote, “Peas” which was their slang for “peace” or “peace out” (which, according to the Urban Dictionary, means “telling someone good-bye, used with a hand gesture in which you pound your chest with your fist twice, then give the peace sign.”) To his dad and me, he usually signed, “Love from your one and only son, Tim Thatcher,” as if otherwise we wouldn’t know who he was. In retrospect, that makes me feel a little sad.

A standard blessing at church is, “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.”

Endings are important. They mean something. As I begin the final third of my life (seeing as how I expect to live until I’m 100!), I’ve decided to officially adopt a new valediction: “Know you are loved!”  In a world that can often be mean, cold, and hurtful, consider the value of that message. And hey—know that YOU are loved!

To my readers:  Do you have an interesting way of closing your notes or cards?