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of the Meals on Wheels recipients were at home the last day I delivered
food to them. None of the seniors was displeased with the menu
for the day, and luckily, no one received the wrong meal. Each
and every one thanked me profusely for their containers of hot food,
cold food and their paper carton of milk. My response was, “Thank
you!” but after the fourth or fifth house, I decided that maybe it’s
time to reply with the very correct “You’re welcome” regardless of who
is giving what to whom while standing at whose door. Children are taught the Magic Words of please and thank you and you’re welcome as soon as they begin to talk. “May I be excused?” is added to the repertoire shortly after. “How are you?” and “May I help?” enter their vocabularies. Yet the ingrained courtesies are forgotten when we are rushing around doing our own things and moving in our own rhythms. Although an image of children jumping up and down trying to get the best toys in play group or the first treat at snack time (Aren’t all of the portions the same amount?) is bound to come to mind immediately, adults are guilty, too. Maybe love means never having to say you’re sorry, but there are times for saying exactly that. Writing an e-mail to ask for something stops being a polite request and becomes a rude demand when Magic Words are omitted. I’ve caught myself doing that – and I wonder if I missed any of those. I hope not. So, how are you? Keep in touch. |
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