This morning, a man I didn’t know opened a door for me…..and I was surprised!
\nIt shows what our manners have come to that what used to be a common kindness should surprise me.
\nI had stopped to give the title company a waiver. Just as I left my car, it began to rain in earnest. I put up my umbrella, and closed the bag I was carrying and headed for the door. Two men were talking in the doorway, protected from the rain by an overhang. One of them opened the door for me, even though he was not passing through. I thanked him.
\nOn the way out, his companion did the same for me. It was a simple gesture of kindness that used to be very commonplace, but today, in the gray, rainy weather, it seemed unusually nice.
\nWhen I graduated from college, women had just begun to think of themselves as “liberated.” That meant that you didn’t have to wait for men to open your door; you could do it yourself. Or, better yet, you could open the door for them. I felt the basic idea needed to be adjusted a bit. If there is someone behind me, I hold the door for them. It doesn’t matter if the person is male or female; I hold the door. I am especially careful to help those older than I am, and mothers whose hands are full.
\nI can’t actually remember the last time a man other than my husband held the door for me, but I bet I can guess who it was. We have a friend who is in his mid-forties, who has lovely manners. I bet the last time we went to dinner together, he held the door. I know that he helps me into his car, and closes the car door when we travel together. But, this man is the exception to the rule.
\nIt incenses me when a younger man strides through the door, and lets it slap shut in my face. I wish I could say to them, “When do you plan to take a course in manners?” But, that would be rude. It seems we are so concerned with ourselves that we have let what used to be taken for granted slip out of existence.
\nManners……I miss ye! Maybe we should all practice those random acts of kindness, and hold doors open for each other.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This morning, a man I didn’t know opened a door for me…..and I was surprised! It shows what our manners have come to that what used to be a common kindness should surprise me. I had stopped to give the … Continue reading