I was looking through my book, The Sweet Life, the other day. This is not something I do on a regular basis. I don’t sit around the double-wide thinking, Wow! I got a few minutes to spare. I think I’ll check out some of the brilliant things I said in my book. No siree, Bob. I’m writing a new show that’s based on the book (it’ll debut in September) and so part of the job is going through the book and deciding what stories would be fun to share on stage, up close and personal. Can’t wait!
Anyhoo, with all that’s going on in the country, on TV, heck our town meeting right here in Mahoosuc Mills was louder and more mean spirited then ever before, it seems like we’ve forgotten some basic things we were taught as a kid. What happened to common courtesy? I miss it. So, I’m leafing through my book, and this story caught my eye.
So the other day, I’m on the phone to this catalogue company, when they launch into the usual spiel: “You’re a valuable customer, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah . . . The next available representative will be with you in a moment.”
And I say, “Thank you!” It’s a recording for God’s sake!
I continue listening to a touching rendition of “Yesterday” for a minute or two, when I hear, “Your call is important to us. Thank you for waiting.”
“You’re welcome!” I reply. Seriously.
It’s a reflex, like blinking or breathing. See, good manners were drilled into me by my parents. There’s no getting around it. Not that I’d want to. Being polite is a good thing, and has served me well over the years.
It was hard getting the hang of it at first, though. In our house, you had to say “please,” “thank you,” and “you’re welcome.” End of story. There was none of this, “Now what do you say?” kind of thing. My parents had their own method for showing my sister Irene and me how it’s done.
“Pass the potatoes,” I’d say at the dinner table, and my parents would act like they didn’t hear me.
“Pass the potatoes,” I’d repeat, a little louder. Still no response.
“Dad, pass the potatoes!”
Silence.
Then the penny drops.
“Please?”
“Here you go, Sweetie,” Dad says, passing the potatoes.
“Thank you!” You had to follow up with that, or the potatoes disappeared to the other side of the table again.
“You’re welcome.”
Charlie was raised the same way. Oh, he was always polite, holding the door open for me, like a gentleman. Still does.
To this day, we say please and thank you to each other, not just for the big things, but for the smallest things, too.
“Thanks for mowing the lawn, Charlie.”
“Ida, please pass me that delightful little Mrs. Claus salt shaker you got down to the Christmas Tree Shop.” (Well, I embellished that one a little, but you get the idea.)
Saying please and thank you is a sign of respect, which, in my opinion, is one of the most important things in a relationship. It lets your mate know you see all he or she is doing and appreciate it. Try adding please, thank you, and appreciation to your next to-do list, and see what happens.
This doesn’t just apply to marriage, folks. It applies to life. And it’s bipartisan.
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
Hear Ida Tell It: The Power of Please and Thank You
Upcoming Shows and Book Events: Spring/Summer
May 27: Ida’s Havin’ a Yard Sale!, The Castle on Charles, http://www.castlenh.com/ 8:00pm, Rochester, NH
June 2 & 3: Ida: Woman Who Runs With the Moose, The Footlights Theatre, http://www.thefootlightsinfalmouth.com/ 7:30pm, Falmouth, ME
June 9: Book Reading: The Sweet Life, Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library Literary Luncheon, https://bbhlibrary.org/ 11:30am, Boothbay Harbor, ME
July 8: Books in Boothbay: Maine’s Summer Book Fair, Boothbay Railway Village, 9:00am to 1:00pm, Boothbay, ME
July 15: The Best of Ida, Fundraiser for the Moose River Valley Historical Society, https://www.sites.google.com/site/jackmanmooserivermuseum/
7:00pm, Jackman, ME
July 18: Book Reading: The Sweet Life, Rangeley Public Library, http://rangeleylibrary.org/ 6:00pm, Rangeley, ME
August 5: Ida’s Havin’ a Yard Sale!, Deertrees Theatre, http://www.deertrees-theatre.org/ 7:30pm, Harrison, ME