Mind your Manners

 

 I ran to the gas station during lunch to grab a soda and a hot dog (they're great and cheap so I love them) ...An older gentleman who was struggling to walk and should have probably had a walker, was coming in as I was going out .

 

He was flawlessly dressed in tan and white plaid pearl snap shirt and pressed  and starched wranglers with his clean but worn boots and lovely tan cowboy hat. Looked like he had been a farmer earlier in life based on the deep tanned face with hardened wrinkles that framed his pale icey blue eyes. His face was proud and he smiled at me.

 

As I hurried my step to make sure I wouldn't be in his way, he also attempted to hurry as well. As I started to walk out the door, he reached his slim boney hand and gracefully and slowly open the door for me...it was a moment in my day... a small act of kindness...and it touched my heart.

 

Maybe it was because it reminded me of my grandpa Charlie...Tan lanky old farmer types who look like they worked outside manual labor for more years than I've been alive often remind me of him.

 

One moment that meant nothing, that was probably a reflex for him, affected me.

 

It got me to thinking. When did we stop using basic manners?

When did we stop putting manners on the backburner? I am not a girlie girl. Don't get me wrong I like to fish and getting my hands dirty is not a big deal to me. However, I like to be treated " like a girl."

 

As a young 20something, I was "trained" to have doors opened for me. I was so used to people opening doors for me that if I was alone and no men were with me, I would stand at the door and wait until I realized that I would have to open it for myself.

 

As a 30something... today I was reminder how far manners have fallen. Is it that I stopped expecting it? Do parents not train their little boys to open doors or their young ladies to  wait ?

 

Today... I am renewed in my drive to raise my munchkin to be a gentleman.

 

Today with one door literally being opened for me, it reminded that silently the older generation is still teaching us.

 

Ladies & Gents... Mind your manners.