City Manners

So, I've recently become disillusioned by the fact that many people in the city don't seem to have manners. I guess it is because of our recent six week trip across the Midwest seeing family and friends. Back home in Iowa, people were friendly. They waved and always said hellow when greeting you or thanked you for stopping by their store. This is the way I feel it should be.

Unfortunately, I notice in the big city of Las Vegas (I know this is a relative term!) people don't have the same manners or general kindness that they do other places. I don't remember the last time I went through a drive thru window and had the worker actually thank me. I know, these people don't get paid much, they have problems, and they don't want to actually work there in many cases. However, I've always believed and found that the nicer I am to others the better it makes my day.

I'm not trying to start a niceness (is that a word?) revolution or anything like that, but I can't see where being a little nicer to others and showing a soft spot can hurt all that much either. As a male Cole, nobody expects that from me anyway! Heck, as a Cole male I think I'm supposed to be a little gruff and keep my emotions on the indside. At least that seems to be the case for the past several generations. I'm not saying that is a good thing or a bad thing, just the way it is.

With that being said, I still think that people in a city could feel a little better about themselves if they at least said "good morning" or "thanks!". I don't think that is asking to much after spending a few dollars at the establishment where they work. After all, if you want to keep your job it seems you may want me to come back tomorrow (the folks at JambaJuice are nice!). So, tomorrow I hope we all take the time to say "thanks" or "good morning" as we pass by another person. At least that's the cranky view as I see it.

Mystery Solved

Quite a while ago I wrote about Matthew's Padres blanket leaving. It was obvious to me at the time that our friends--the Tighe's--took it with them after a short visit at our house. The timing was so perfect, that I knew there was no way that it couldn't be them.

Over Matthew's birthday, I solved the mystery. I had no way of knowing how far this conspiracy would go, but it was shocking. You see, my mother comes out every year for Matthew's birthday. It's an awesome time and we all look forward to it. Mom was even in the room when the little dude was born so there was an instant bond.

I'm not sure how the Tighe's infiltrated her loyalty, but somehow they got to her. You see, the blanket mysteriously "showed up" while she was in town in January for his birthday. No sign of the blanket for such a long time and all of a sudden, there it was. To make things even fishier, she kept insisting that I owed Tighe a public apology.

My only conclusion is that she somehow smuggled it past security at the Des Moines International Airport (Yes---it is international. That's for another blog!). Anyway, imagine my disappointment when Matthew wanted nothing to do with the blanket. I guess absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder in this situation. Or perhaps, he just knows the Padres had such a terrible year.

Regardless, I slept better knowing the blanket came home. At least that's the view from the closet where the blanket showed up.