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« Stay Away from Racoons | Tip your driver! »

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Etiquette, please Manners

Posted on Tue, Jan 13, 2015 at 4:00 AM

Took my car in for routine maintenance to a place off Kempt Rd on Tuesday morning. As I walked in to the customer service area to drop off my keys a large dog stood up, wagging his tail, to greet me. I guess he knocked over the coffee travel mug of his owner, who was sitting on one of the chairs. Her coffee spilled all over the end table, drenching brochures, magazines and the desk phone belonging to the business. She did nothing except pick up her mug and return it to the upright position while continuing her cell phone conversation. The coffee started to drip on the floor, milady continued her conversation and a man came from the side with a wad of paper towels and started to mop up the mess around the desk phone. He spoke gently to the dog, called him 'buddy' so I assumed he was also the dog's owner and the woman's partner. At one point she cut her eyes towards him and muttered 'thanks'. When he finished and walked around behind the counter and asked if I had already been taken care of, I realized he was the auto shop staff. She was still on the phone when I left. A small example of self absorption that erodes, bit by tiny bit, the manners that keep society functioning above mayhem. Not sure if I should have spoken; she wasn't actively harming anyone. (her call did not involve hospitals, imminent death of loved one or a hostage situation) I have and will continue to speak out when I see harm being done but this? Should we or shouldn't we? —Molly mulling it over

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