Virginia Is For Families

I was out and about this morning doing some Christmas shopping.

I decided this year to get it done early. And from what I can see there are still a few things on the shelves waiting for Daddy to buy them. If not on the shelves then under the table or on the floor next to the headless plastic dummy sporting the ridiculous bathrobe. Can you tell I’m having a good time?

I went to McDonald’s Cholesterol Kingdom this morning

and the most amazing thing happened. There was a middle aged guy in front of me as we headed towards the entrance . This guy opened the door for me and let me go in first. I said thank you and he said you’re welcome. But then I was first in line! He should have been first in line! And I thought about offering to let him go first. But then that seemed sort of lame. You can have too much politeness just as you can have too little of it. But as I was mulling this over another line opened up and we both got served at the same time.

And someone waited to let me out into traffic yesterday.

That has happened before but this time it was like “I will wait here until tomorrow morning if necessary to get you on your way. The Christmas spirit is alive and well in my heart. And I am tuning out the stares I see in my rear view mirror. ” Very nice. Of course, this doesn’t mean that everybody is going to be courteous or helpful. I’m convinced that some people use Christmas as an excuse to become meaner.

If that is possible.

Their reasoning probably goes something like this……”Look at that imbecile holding the door for another guy. Doesn’t he know how weird that looks? Man! Christmas really makes fools out of some people. I think I will write somebody a condescending comment or two. The world is full of idiots and it’s up to me to keep them straight. ”

That’s the spirit!

What would we do without folks who like to remind us that they know better and we should do what they tell us to do? They like to call it a “suggestion” but just imagine that this person was your boss! Suddenly it’s not a suggestion any more.

Thank goodness for the folks who are out here trying to be helpful.

You can raise my spirits. And I can raise yours too. It’s so easy to do with strangers or family and friends. It just takes a second. It’s a simple as holding a door or waiting a few seconds in traffic. Or giving someone you love a hug and a smile.