On the way to my office this morning, I ran into two miscreants who fall into life’s category called “oblivious.”
I’m sure you encounter people like this all the time. You know the type, the ones who appear to pay no attention to what’s going on around them but manage to carry on.
I had packages I had to drop off at the UPS Store. With them in my arms, I walked up to the door only to be cut off by some schmuck who showed his bad manners a second time by not holding the door open.
“You must be in a big hurry this morning,” I said.
Silence.
“Did your mother ever tell you it’s polite to hold the door open for someone, especially if they’re holding packages?”
Nothing.
“Sending back the book on manners?”
Call me an antagonist, but don’t forget to give the guy credit for ignoring me.
I winked at the young lady behind the counter, wished her luck and offered my best wishes for a good day.
She smiled, but didn’t wink back.
Miscreant number two came in the form of two elderly people in a fire engine red Chevy Impala who decided it was time to change lanes. An inch from my front bumper.
As someone who likes noise and loves the sound of a car horn, I was in heaven as I pressed into the steering wheel for what seemed like a good half-minute.
Never wavering, they went about their journey at a steady 20 miles-per-hour in a 45 zone.
Unlike the lady behind the counter, I wasn’t smiling.
In these instances, mom and pop in their hot-rod get a pass due to age. The other guy, no way. The simple act of holding a door open is something I was taught early on, as was when to say please and thank you – two phrases which are becoming extinct.
I often wonder what life will be like 25 years from now, if we’re seeing a preview of it today, God bless us everyone.