Something that I consider good manners is showing respect for service staff (wait staff, bartenders, doorman, et cetera). I lose respect for people who are rude to service staff or behave as if the service staff are slaves or otherwise of lesser value.

Savannah often receives comments from strangers about her good manners, she says please, thank you and pardon me just about every time it is appropriate, and has done so since she was only five years old or so. People remarking about her good manners never fails to fill me with happy pride.

But I still continue to marvel at the ignorance and ambivalence of others as they plow their way though the world they mistakenly believe exists only for them and that courtesy to others in thought and deed is optional if not completely absent.

But as I’ve gotten older I’ve found that grandmother’s way was the correct way. Even though I try not to do so, I find myself becoming less and less tolerant of those who do not practice good manners, especially in public. I even address the kids behind the counter at McDonalds as “sir” or “ma’am”.