The other day my 9 year old nephew called me by my 1st name.
There is no way this would have happened in the south.
I don't want to live in the south, the weather sucks.
To quote my wife "when something in the south bites you, it means it." I don't like the fire ants and the gators, but I love the civility of the place.
When we lived in South Carolina the kids next door called me Mr Jake. These children were between 3 and 8 and still they had better manners then most adults I know on the left coast.
I love that there is an unwritten rule that gives respect to perfect strangers.
I love that in the south, folks in there 70's still call my 92 year old father in law Mr Steve.
Here we dropped the ball. we are perfectly fine with kids not showing respect because somewhere in our lives we lost that skill.
I didn't grow up with that type of civility, but I wish I had.
Perhaps it is that sense of honor and respect that is what really is missing these days. Maybe we could work just a touch harder at that.
The other day I turned older, my kids sent me greetings on facebook and texts.
Thanks to those who stopped by and did that in person.
