I was going into my local 7-Eleven the other day and the young clerk was just inside the door, finishing mopping the floor. I hesitated but he said, “No, don’t worry come on in.” He had no idea the conflict he had created in my mind.
I was brought up not to walk on a floor that had just been mopped. As I stood there at the door, I could hear my mother’s voice, “You boys go find something to do and don’t come in here; I’ve just washed this floor.”
If I did go into the store, I knew I would leave footprints. Should I take my shoes off? We were always taught to leave our shoes on the porch if the floor had been washed.
It seems we were always getting confusing messages as kids. We were either being told to ‘get in for dinner,’ or ‘get outside and play.’ Or else it was ‘come in for bed,’ or ‘go outside and do your chores.’
But those early lessons taught respect. If 50 years later I am still thinking about it, I was obviously well-taught. It was all about respect and when I see a surprised look on a young woman’s face because I’ve held the door open for her, I feel our generations are getting farther apart.
I’m reminded of the story about the lady at church who watches her friend and her husband arriving for Sunday service.
“I’m always impressed when your husband comes around and opens the car door for you,” she remarks. “Well don’t be,” replies her friend. “The inside door handle broke off a year ago and the cheapskate won’t pay the $30 parts and labour to get it fixed.”
But even that bit of chivalry is lost now. The husband can push a button and unlock the door as they walk across the parking lot and neither he nor his wife have to stop texting.
Respect for uniforms is waning as well. We were taught as kids that if it was a fireman, a police officer, a mailman or a Frontiersman, we were to heed their directions, stand in line and wait our turn. You only have to stop at a car accident, walk through an airport or be confronted by a detour to see too many people today just seem to think these people are just in their way. Rude comments, honking horns and screeching tires all say something about their upbringing or lack of upbringing.
Waiters and waitresses have a thankless job these days. Recently, I was one of the patrons of a restaurant who listened to a man doing business on his cellphone during lunch, all the time admonishing the waitress for her lack of service. He sent his ‘cold’ soup back to the kitchen. I couldn’t help but wonder what ingredients were added before she brought it back. I read advice recently that if you go out with someone for the first time, watch how they treat waitresses and dogs. It says a lot.
People who are habitually late for appointments or meetings show that they never had parents that made sure they were dressed and ready so they could get there at least 15 minutes early. The explanation for all these teachings was simply that it was the right thing to do.
As you go through life, try not to leave dirty footprints behind. At least that’s what McGregor says
