SOCIAL GRACES

While Jackie went into the Bullhead City, NV grocery to do the weeks shopping, I sat in the RV watching and musing life's passerbys.  On the corner there sat a more than well used pick-up with an abnormally huge cab-over camper with little hands pressed against the inside window, faces looking out, noses pressed flat against the glass.  The afternoon sun heats up these tin houses on wheels quite fast and without an A/C it will get damn hot inside in no time flat.  There is no doubt that the comfort level of that camper was less than enjoyable.

At the stop sign, just outside, and in front of the camper stood mom, pop and their little furry pooch, asking for help.  I'm all for helping others in need and they would have been aided by either Jackie or I with enough gas to get them down the road a couple of hundred miles closer to their destination....but....puffs of smoke and cigarettes dangling from their lips cinched tight our purse strings.  At that point I wanted to go over and give aid in the form of lessons in  how people perceive others.  I would have said, "When asking for help, you'll have to forgo a nicotine fix in front of those you are asking help from.  The folks will think your addiction is more important than food for your children and pass you by, no matter the truth. Your benefactors want to know you'll be buying bread for your children and not a bag of Bugler."  But, I didn't give aid either with money or lesson, I just passed them by. 

Their indigent situation may be the result of never having learned how to see or read other's actions toward them.  Social Graces learned early-on by breeding or social mix goes a long way toward how others perceive you. It ain't always fair but that is just the way it is.