Scenes From My Life

“Well,” my grandmother asked,  “are you excited?” I had no idea what she meant by this statement.  Nothing particularly exciting had happened in my life recently.  It was just the usual routine of a high school sophomore.  I could not think of any other answer but, “About what,” I asked, hoping for some small clue about what she meant. “About Disney!  We’re going to Disney,” my grandmother responded, with notable excitement in her voice. To say that my grandparents loved Disney World is an understatement.  Over the years, they had made several trips to the Florida theme parks.  At the time of our conversation, they probably had been at least a half dozen times.  I just figured this was my grandmother’s roundabout way of announcing their next trip. “Oh…fun…” I said, still a bit confused. “Well, aren’t you excited about it?”  Her voice was a mix of anticipation and slight impatience. This cryptic back and forth could go on for a long time, so I responded

       Life is short, but there is always time enough for courtesy.                                                   ~   Ralph Waldo Emerson Emerson wrote these words in the nineteenth century, more than 130 years ago.  It was well before the time of e-mail and texts and instant messages.  At that time, even the telephone was still something of a curiosity.  Yet, when I came across this quote recently, I was struck by how it is as relevant today as it was during Emerson’s lifetime. Thanks to technology, people all over the world can communicate with one another.  All it takes is a few seconds.  Technology has totally revolutionized the way business is done and the way our lives are lived.  But, all of this convenience has also made it easier to be ignored. What is it about our day-to-day lives that seems to have made courtesy a disappearing art?  Yes, most people lead full, often hectic lives.  But, that is nothing new.  Nor is it an excuse to ignore others.  Whether it is as