Is courtesy gone?

Last week I ran into the post office to buy a couple of book of stamps. The girls just finished a unit at school on letter writing so we have been writing letters to all of the grandparents on a regular basis this using up our small stash of stamps. So I ran in with the intention of using the automated machine... I love that thing. In and out in under five minutes.

I walked into the post office and someone was using the machine so I got in line behind him. There were several people in line at the counter so it would definitely be shorter to just wait. I noticed that the guy kept looking over his shoulder at me. I just smiled and waited. Then he turned to me, showing a stack of about 40 large envelopes and I expect to hear him say go ahead he just looks at me and says "I'm going to be a while." I look at him like are you serious. The machine is clearly for people who need to get in and out and the guy was sending a huge stack. I wanted to give him what for but decided that since my morning had already been stressful I would spare my blood pressure.

I got into line and the man in front of me turns around and rolls his eyes and loud enough so that the jerk at the machine could here it starts commenting on how chivalry and courtesy must just be dying out. I agreed with him as did the woman in front of me. Why is it that some days it just seems like people have no manner left. No pleases or thank you's or God bless you's or door holding. How many times have you been walking into a store with your kids when some meanie just lets it shut?

Luckily those days are peppered in with the days where you run into kind people who still care and want to do good for others. It just seems like lately the yucky days are outweighing those good ones. Is courtesy something that is just going to be gone forever one of these days? I am not sure I want to live in a world without pleases and thank you's.