Tasteful Thank You

I recently graduated from college and have finished sending out all of my thank you cards, except for one because I just can't figure out what to write. The reason I'm having some trouble is because this relative didn't give me a gift. I don't mind that he didn't give me a gift, it just makes it harder for me to think of what to say. In the other thank you cards, I was able to thank them for the gift and what I'd use it for, which took up about half the space right there. Another issue is that I'm not very close with this relative, so it's not accurate to say "You're support has meant so much to me, blah, blah, blah." I'm trying to find some way to say thank you, without throwing out false and clique statements. Some ideas on this topic would be gratefully appreciated.

P.S. Does anybody think I shouldn't send him a thank you? I wouldn't want him to think I'm sending the thank you in hopes of getting some graduation money, but some might take it this way.

Edit: I forgot to mention that he attended my graduation party.

I am trying to figure out what you are thanking him for . . . attending your party? I am no Martha Stuart, but I don't think that a thank you would be necessary. Usually a thank you is for a present or a special favor. Attending a graduation party, eating, and drinking doesn't merit a thank you in my book.

But . . . if you want to thank him, you could always write something like, "Thank you for being at my graduation party and sharing in my special day. It was wonderful to see you. Wishing you the best."

Yeah, I'm a little confused if I'm supposed to send one or not. I don't want to seem rude by not sending him one, but I also don't want to seem weird or like I'm fishing for a gift by sending him one.

Is he your mom's relative or your dad's? I'd ask your parent what they think. They've probably known him longer and would have insight to how he'd take a thank you. Is there a chance that he brought a card to the gathering and the card was misplaced? It just seem odd that he'd come to the party empty handed (not that I didn't go to a couple of parties empty handed, but I am a poor student not a full-fledged adult).

I agree that it's not necessary to send a "thank you" unless there is something to thank the person for.

If you want to be social, but don't feel like you have anything to thank him for, you could just send him a letter or email saying you were glad he came to your party, and that you hope to see him more often. The idea of formal thank you notes is to maintain social ties anyway, rather than to express genuine gratitude.

Thanking them for attending the party would be most tasteful imo.

Are you close to this relative?

How "extended" is he in your family? I would not send a thank you note to someone, unless there was something to be thankful for. This is particularly a personality thing. If you're the kind of person who can suppress their real self and extend perfunctory sentiments, by all means send the note.

I would just say thank you for attending your special day

Well I think it's nice to say thank people for attending your grad party.
I even received many thank you cards from graduates that I barely knew just because of the reason that I went to their grad parties.
But it's always nice to be thanked and they would think that you're only after for graduation money :)

And really, what's so bad about that? Worst case scenario, he chooses to ignore the perceived implication. Best case scenario, you get grad money. :-)