chivalry
Today I’m waiting for the elevator with the old guy who calls me ‘sir’ all the time. As we wait, I explain to him that I was almost out the door when I realized that I forgot my office keys. So there’s some idle chitchat about where I work and so on and then he tells me he’s heading to the magazine shop to pick up a copy of the Metro and they put it aside for him so he can keep up on the news. He’s always been a pretty well dressed guy and today he’s got on a shirt and tie and a plaid fedora.
We get in the elevator and sure enough it stops at the next floor and a girl gets in.
As soon as the girl gets in, the old guy takes off his hat. In fact, he does it so quickly and smoothly, that I barely notice. It was like it wasn’t even a conscious effort, not even a habit, but pure instinct. And it was all for little reason as she barely acknowledged either one of us. But still the effort was made.
I wish I had that ingrained in me.