Things I miss - Behaviors

As I grow older and older I start to notice some of the things I miss from childhood.  Some of these are actual objects, childhood nick knacks and such, some are people, some are places, and some are behaviors.  Today, I speak of Behaviors. 

As a kid I remember being in the car with my Dad and him waving behind him every time he changed lanes.  I remember being told by my grandfather to always hold the door for the person behind you.  I remember my dad telling me to always open the door for your mom or for any woman for that matter.  I remember a time when people said please, thank you, hello, and so on.  Hell, I even remember a time when people waved at you when you drove by.  The latter still exists in certain parts of Texas, those parts way back in the woods, off the beaten path, locked in time, forever carrying the values of their forefathers.

I am having a hard time getting older.  I am starting to understand why so many old people are mean.  They are mean because they are frustrated with the world around them.  The one different from the one they knew.  Somewhere along the line it changed without them knowing and without them preparing for it.  Some people pay attention to these changes, others are on Autopilot and wouldn't notice if they were on fire.  I consider myself to be one of those people who pay attention. 

In my world, many of these simple manners and practices have been lost, never to return.  "Thank you" has been replaced with "Fuck you" and the wave replaced with the Middle Finger.  It's sad.  Sometimes it appears as though the majority of the population has lost its fucking mind, they've lost their sense of decency toward mankind.  I get so happy when I meet someone that displays even a small amount of politeness.  Is it such a difficult thing to do?  Is it so hard to think about?  Not in my mind.  It's a reflex for me.  However, this is a product of my upbringing.  Now, one could argue Nature versus Nurture on this.  After all, behaviors in Texas are generally specific only to Texas...However I have to believe it was How I was brought up and not where I was brought up. 

Sadly, it sometimes feels as though I am in this fight alone.  One last gallant knight attempting to prolong the virtues of Chivalry.  One last monk preserving the prayers of practices of his belief.  One could walk around attempting to reprimand those who do not abide by the general practices or courtesy, but you could probably also imagine how that would play out.  People are proud, in general, and don't like being openly called out on their short comings.  Live by example, that's my motto.  Perhaps I am destined to be a mean old person, forever frustrated by what use to be or what should be.  Perhaps none of it really matters in this grand scheme of things called Life.  Perhaps it doesn't matter in the long run, but it matters to me. 

Thanks for sticking though this one, gentle reader.  Whichever person you might be, a "Thank you" or a "Fuck you", I'll still hold the door for ya.

Cheers and have a great fucking day.

Chet Chesterson