On Sun, 02 Jun 2013 15:53:50 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>
>Indeed. When I was younger, only relatives and close friends or groups
>of co-workers would send flowers. Over the years there has been an
>increasing number of requests to make a donation to a charity in lieu of
>flowers. In my min, warped as it may be, a donation in lieu of flowers
>means that if I were going to send flowers they would rather have a
>donation made to a specific charity, or charity of your choice. But...
>if I weren't going to send flowers..... then no donation to me made in
>lieu of the non-flowers.

Agree. The idea overall has merit. IMO, the flowers look pretty for a
couple of hours and then are gone. Waste of money. If you want to
send me flowers, do it now so I can appreciate your thoughtfulness and
enjoy the flowers for days.

Some people feel the need to do something. In a case like that, giving
to a charity at least does some good for that portion of society.



>
>
>On a similar note... I am reluctant to give to new charities. Charity
>fund raising has become a business and sending money to a charity puts
>you on their sucker list, and they sell the list to other charities.

If possible, I give anonymously. I don't itemize deductions any more
so a receipt for taxes is not an issue.



>
>When my mother died we followed her wishes and asked that in lieu of
>flowers please take someone near and dear out for a nice dinner.

Nice. I'd do that.