Table manners go a long way

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

I figure my manners are pretty fittin’ and if they aren’t, my close relative will let me know about it very shortly!

Sure, manners are important, but who decides which are good and which ones are bad? I don’t think Ms. Post - Emily that is - has much influence in this day and time, but someone surely does.

My oldest Grand brought a friend home for supper the other evening and since we were in the process of hauling in hay, they ate with us instead of the offspring. I relish having the youngsters in for a meal, especially when one of our Grands is included. It is one of the best kinds of fun.

The boys were so nice and pleasant, said “yes, sir” and “no, sir,” didn’t complain about the work or the time so I expected the same when we went in for supper. Some of us washed up and dried our hands on the towel. Some wet their hands and wiped dirt on the towel.

Hats belonging to some of us were hung up by theback door and other hats stayed on heads. Napkins are started out beside the plates but meant to land on a feller’s lap when he is seated. Nobody eats anything until grace is said, and I did stop that before the second bite. Elbows do not prop us up at the table in my close relative’s home. She also passes food and does not take kindly to a person standing up to reach across the table for a biscuit.

I could have become pretty disgruntled about the complete lack of table manners of our guest, but the frustration on the faces of my close relative and her high mannered Grand was worth it all!The Grand, tall and lanky, hard to fill up with his grandmother’s victuals, swallowed fast and hard. The eye rolling from him to her was hilarious as the visitor stuffed his mouth and stood to reach another piece of chicken from the platter.

My close relative’s face was glowing red and she excused herself to the kitchen just before shepopped! I am sure the young feller would have removed his hat if I had asked, but he did turn it backward without any coaching before he came to the table. He surely would have been embarrassed had he realized how nonexistent his table manners were.

I expect this youngster ate most of his meals in the living room in front of a television set. Probably the entire family sat together for the meal but all of them on the couch or in a recliner!

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, about the only difference between mankind and other animals is manners. Good manners, acts that are easy to tolerate at the table, are sure enough important. Mommas and Daddys are supposed to teach their offspring about manners before they leave the nest for the first grade. I realize some miss the bus on that item but how on earth are those kids gonna make it out in the big world?

Just regular stuff is usually enough to get by on but, fellers, give your offspring a hand up, teach them to chew with their mouth closed!

Bill is a pen name used by the Gravette author of this weekly column.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 07/13/2011