You're driving down the street in the old home town when you see an approaching vehicle. You're not sure who it is but, as it passes by, you raise your hand with a friendly wave. Whoops. The driver of the car didn't look familiar, and he didn't raise his eyes from the road ahead. There was no responsive wave.
Did he think you were nuts? Who did he think might be loose on the street? And waving, of all things?
Or, how about this? You're in the post office getting ready to put the key into your mail box when someone rounds the corner and begins fiddling with his box key. Do you recognize him? No, but you follow an old habit of saying, "Isn't this a nice morning?" or just a simple, "Good morning." No response. Does he think you're nuts?
Or, maybe you're pushing your lawn mower adjacent to the street and, as you see or hear an approaching vehicle, you pause to keep from throwing clippings on the passing car. Involuntarily, your hand raises in what is meant to be a friendly greeting. No response. Did the driver think you were nuts? Or mad? Or did he even notice you? It's best he kept his eyes on the road, you rationalize.
Old habits die hard, don't they? Those scenarios above are common with many of our generation, particularly in a small town. With many, the habit of waving or greeting isn't completely dead. We still have the habit of waving to drivers in passing cars, or uttering pleasantries to someone in the post office or elsewhere. And pausing with the lawn mower is the friendly thing to do, isn't it? Old habits are hard to break.
These observations are not meant to be critical. They merely reflect a culture while noting how busy we are in our everyday activities, how the lack of response is not a lack of friendliness but merely an example of how our culture has changed. It represents how many of our habits and responses, or lack thereof, have evolved over the years.
Fortunately, there are still remnants of those "good old days" in small towns such as in Eagle Observer Country. But who of us would practice such habits in unfamiliar locations or populous places?
Yep, old habits do die hard in the old home town where our moms taught us to be friendly with neighbors and to newcomers. It was just the way to be, she reminded. The actions became habitual. Moms taught may things, some of which have evolved; the evolution of some has been food, others...? This 'cuff is a week-late tribute to mothers who taught the many positives we learned from old tried-and-true values.
It sometimes causes us to pose a question that might be considered in our ever-changing world: Has the role of motherhood changed? We must surely hope it hasn't changed very much. And never will. Well done, Moms! We thank you for the positive habits you teach.
Dodie Evans is the former owner and publisher of the Gravette News Herald. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 05/13/2015