Shhhhhhhh...................................

When I was doing my twenty mile run on Saturday I found a set of keys. Along with the keys there were some of those store things that one swipes for discounts, and the electronic key card for the library. Small town and all I took the keys up to the library so they could scan the card and get the keys back to the owner.

After I turned in the keys I decided to check out a couple of my favorite authors and see if they had released any new books. As I was looking I couldn't help but be distracted by two girls making (very) loud conversation. Since they were discussing college subjects I think they were old enough to know better. It took much restraint on my part to not go over and start grilling them on did they know where they were, and didn't their mother's raise them to be respectful, blah, blah, yada, yada. Instead I ask the librarian to ask them to tone it down.

Why is it that these simple social graces have seemed to have disappeared? I have no problem with whispering in the library (though in a movie theater even whispering is not cool in my book), but I had no need or desire to get all the dirt on their instructors six rows away from them. This ranks right up there with walking out in the middle of a concert performance. Wait for the song to end and sneak out during the applause would you? Whether you have an appreciation for the event or are just their because your kid is in the band does not negate the fact that someone on that stage worked long and hard to get there and it is just plain rude to leave in the middle of their moment.

Simple acts of respect can go a long way to making this world a better place. I won't disrespect you by listing the many that one will see in an average day. You can fill in your own three most annoying. 1, 2, 3,...

It may be old school, but the Golden Rule still has a place in our society. Or at least it should.