“I would like to thank you for . . . .” Whatever. “. . . helping me cross the street . . . .” or “ . . . taking the time to interview me . . . .” and so on. What strange phenomenon do all these expressions of gratitude have in common? In not one of them does the writer or speaker express gratitude. Instead, the individual acknowledges that the recipient has earned gratitude, but the writer or speaker is unable to express it right now, for reasons undeclared; e.g., “I would like to thank you for helping me cross the street, but I can’t right now, because…