A cautionary tale....I wasn't really going to blog today but I felt I should honor my own commitment to this cautionary tale.
Yesterday I walked up to the post office--three long blocks straight up hill.
When I arrived there, I held the door for an elderly and somewhat disabled man with a cane. He sort of propped the door open for a man behind him carrying a shopping bag.
"Thank you, " said the younger man.
"Don't thank me, thank her....I could not get the door open."
As I walked down the steps to the lobby, the second man shoved past me, brushing my coat as he went by. He rushed to get ahead of us in line! I was totally annoyed and surprised by this. He turned around and gave me a big smile as if to say, "look what I did!"
I said to him, " do know what the Internet is? Do you know what a blog is?"
"Oh, yes!" he replied with great enthusiasm.
"Good...because I have one, and tomorrow you will be in it...for running ahead of me and this gentleman in line after I held the door for you. That is just amazing to me!"
Well, of course, other people heard it and there was some snickering. I then stepped out of line and let several people in front of me since I didn't want to stand next to such an obnoxious individual.
I heard him tell somebody that he was " really in a hurry." Maybe he was hoping others would let HIM get in front of them. I wonder what he though the rest of us were? Chopped liver? I really do not normally encounter ungentlemanly like behavior in my life. If this grinch had apologized--or even said he was in a hurry--or asked to go ahead--it would have been far better, in my opinion. I normally don't allow people to get to me in lines, either. Whenever anybody asks me to go ahead in a grocery store, I think it is fine if they only have a few things. I must be getting old.
So, that is my tale. On the way out, I stopped to put money in the Salvation Army kettle. The retired guys who were volunteering were so different than the person in a hurry.
One of them ran over to open the door for an elderly woman. I just hoped for the best for that person as she went down the stairs. I hoped that nobody would knock her down to get ahead of her in line.
Big snow storm on the way today. Hope that you have a good day and that you encounter only polite individuals!
2 comments:
I am also concerned about the speed and selfishness of some in today's world. There are so many rushing through the amber lights and even the red! More than I noticed a few years ago. I am afraid or rather cautious about stopping quickly if someone is close behind me!
I had a very pleasant grocery shopping experience yesterday, even though I was expecting it to be unpleasant! So many polite, "Excuse me," "go ahead" etc, smiles and cheerful conversations with strangers.
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I can't help but chuckle... we ALL have had those sour experiences at the post office. If i only had a dime for every time someone... well, I'd be a rich girl. lol! Sorry to hear that happened to ya. I always use click n' ship for priority mail.. i wish they had it for 1st class too, our lives would be a lot easier! :)))
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