Who said that?

Twice over the long holiday weekend, I had opportunities to challenge the inappropriate actions of total strangers, and I actually did.

On the 4th, as we were crossing the bridge over the bay between the west OC park-n-ride to the inlet area, a young woman was riding her bike in the walkway. The polite - nay, required - thing to do is to unseat one’s rear end from the bike and walk it across, so as not to run people over on one’s way. This young woman repeated “sorry…sorry…sorry,” but continued to pedal anyway. The walkway is narrow - barely two abreast - and we found her extremely rude to expect everyone else to move aside just to avoid injury to ourselves. Then I heard someone say, “No, you’re not sorry. If you were sorry you’d get off the bike and walk it.” It was a firm, clear, decisive voice. Oh my word! Imagine my shock at discovering it was mine!

Then on Tuesday, we stopped at a McDonald’s during our 5-1/2 hour drive home (ugh!) We were waiting in line when another cashier opened a new line, asked who was next, and immediately a man who’d just walked in and gotten in line behind us strolled right up and started placing his order. I was ticked. Again that clear voice came out of nowhere to cut him off and remind him that we’d been waiting in line first and it was therefore our turn, and proceeded to give the woman our order. Respect my elders? Yes, but not when they act like poorly behaved children.

I’m going back to Nova Scotia, where people haven’t forgotten the fine art of friendly courtesy.

Have I been learning from Geren, or from some winged creature, or maybe both? Whoever my examples are…behave courteously, or the next person for whom the voice crows may be you!