DEAR ABBY: I have known and cherished "Ellen's" friendship for 36 years. We're both in our 70s now and have been corresponding regularly because we both live comfortably and well in different states. We look forward to receiving mail from each other.
However, for the last four years, Ellen's letters have been written on memo pads, odd pieces of paper or whatever appears to be available. The last one I received from her was written on three separate scraps of paper.
My letters to her have always been on pretty, matched stationery. Do you think Ellen would think I was implying she was cheap if I mailed her a box of stationery and asked her to use it to write to me? -- SICK OF SCRAPS, BILLINGS, MONT.
DEAR SICK OF SCRAPS: I have a better idea: Be subtler. Send her a lovely box of stationery with a note that says: "When I saw this, it reminded me of you and our many wonderful years of friendship -- so I thought you ought to have it."
A friendship of 36 years' duration should be more important to you than the kind of paper that sustains it across the distance.