#?*!

The other day, I stopped my car (nary a crosswalk in sight), to allow a middle aged woman and, (presumably) her daughter to cross the street.

I sat quietly, patiently as they started off the curb…watched silently as they crossed the mid line, and passed along in front of my car.
And then I couldn’t take it anymore.

I was furious and it wasn’t pretty.

I honked at them.

I honked as they stepped up to the other sidewalk without once acknowledging the fact that I stopped mid-street, for no good reason other than to allow them to cross safely.

I honked because I was frustrated.
Probably I shouldn’t have.
But I felt this insane need to capture their attention; to make them LOOK at me and see that there was someone other then themselves on the planet.
I honked because I wanted them to say thanks, or nod, or in some little way notice me sitting there.
Waiting for them.

When people waltz through doors as I hold them open without even a sideways glance, I have no problem saying loudly and sarcastically, “Gosh, you’re welcome!”.
Occasionally it works; sometimes they half turn, sheepishly, grudgingly muttering ‘thanks’.
More often than not, though, they continue on their way, oblivious.

Well, Lynne Truss has written yet another insightful book on this very topic.

Entitled, Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door, Ms. Truss applies her razor sharp wit, fiendish sense of humour and real concern as to the epidemic that is the unmitigated 'jerkish uprising' that's quickly taking over the world.

And I'm not some grumpy old lady.
I'm 33.
(Just to prove that it's not just older people who shake their canes at the terrible crassness of the youth these days.)

And, as my initial example demonstrates, it's not just the young who seem to be increasingly rude, it's people who should know better, too!

But I suppose ones sense of 'entitlement' changes to whom you are courteous, or whom you blatantly ignore?

Mine is a kind of moral outrage too.
I want to wail out, cry outloud at the snub.

"I'm good enough, damn it! My kind actions deserve to be noted!! Hello?? I'm worthy of your nod of thanks!!!"

It seems like an over the top reaction, I suppose, but I despise being looked through.

So.

Please.

Read "Talk to the Hand".

And thank you in advance!