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• Tuesday, May 23, 2006 08:17 AM

  WOW

  I've been seeing just the opposite. An example: I stop at a convenience store most mornings and I'm impressed by how many people hold the door for others, how the clerk wishes me a good day, how people remark how cute my kids are and try to talk with them. I think people are generally good and just want to get through another day with as little strife as possible.

  I guess I do live in one of those affluent places, but I don't think that's the whole reason. I was in a really terrible marriage; just constant bickering. I also had a brother die young. I sometimes wonder if those experiences just took all the fight out of me. I definitely used to be a guy with a chip on his shoulder. I would have said something to that person who spoke to their child that way, I would say something to a person with too many items in the supermarket check-out line, and years ago, I had a couple of instances of road rage. That chip just evaporated. I don't know where it went, and don't care to look for it.

  Sure, I see some ignorant behavior (the oblivious driving while talking on the cell phone is everywhere). If some maniac tailgates me in traffic, I just move over and let him by. I usually crack a joke about it and am happy not to be that way myself. I just don't get worked up about that stuff anymore. Remember Elvis Costello, "I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused".

  Best of luck (oh, and say good morning to someone ;))

  C.

  —cdr42 Read cdr42's other letters
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