DEAR ABBY: I know that you have touched on my problem in your column a number of times, but someone wrote an excellent letter you printed, suggesting to family and friends around Thanksgiving that they wished to eliminate gift-giving for the upcoming holidays.
Would you please run that letter again? It would be helpful if I could reread that letter and your response.
Please do not print my name. -- LONGTIME READER
DEAR LONGTIME READER: Here it is, with pleasure:
DEAR ABBY: I think it was about this time last year that you ran a suggested letter for those who wished to discontinue giving Christmas gifts to friends whom you felt sure would appreciate being removed from their gift-giving list.
I failed to cut it out, and now find that I need to let some friends know that we both probably would appreciate not having to go through the gift-giving procedure simply because we've been doing it for years. Thank you again. -- ANONYMOUS, BUT ONE OF MANY
DEAR ANONYMOUS: Be absolutely up-front with your friends. Around Thanksgiving, write them a short note saying that you are counting your blessings -- and among them are friends with whom you can be completely honest. Then suggest: "From now on, let us exchange only Christmas cards -- no gifts." I assure you they will not be offended.