Respect Your Elders?


     Remember that old command to respect your elders? I was taught to do that too. So who are our elders? Who do you think of when you think of "elders"? I always picture in my head really old people with white hair who gave you sweets, told you stories, and wore sweaters smelling of moth balls and menthol. One dictionary defines it plainly as, "an older person." Well that could be anyone older than yourself. Meaning, as a kid, I had to pretty much respect everyone and anyone besides my younger brothers. I never had a problem with this obligation. It wasn't until I was an adult that I wondered, "What if that elder does not respect me?" or "What if that elder isn't deserving of respect?" Hmmmm? What do you do then?

           I was in a clothing store earlier this week. Walking among the racks checking for goodies.  I was not in the mood for any foolishness, but of course it was in the mood for me. Swiftly moving from one rack to the next was quite unpleasant since the aisles were cramped with merchandise. Seeing what I was looking for I ease on down the aisle when I had to stop short. There was a woman blocking the entire aisle. Not an old woman, mind you. She looked to be maybe 50-55, around my mother's age, just old enough to be past the whole drama phase. I started to just wait until she finished until I realized she was just standing there, staring at the wall. I shook my head, clearly she can see she's standing in the way. Turning all the way around and going back the other way would take too much time and effort. I politely said, "Excuse me." Her lips frowned and pushed out a little. Her eyes closed slowly and opened again as if I were a worrysome child tugging on her coat sleeve. I was no more than 3 inches from her head so I know she saw me if not heard me. Her feet stood firmly in place, she did not budge. "Okay." I thought. "Maybe she's another Helen Keller and can't see or hear." I gave her the benefit of the doubt. "EXCUSE ME." I said again, this time a bit louder and firmer. Nothing on her body moved, except her eyes. She rolled them at me! That's when the old command jumped into my head again. I could hear my mother's voice, "Respect your elders." But by this time Im pissed off. What would you do? 

           In my head I tell her, "Now I've tried to be polite, and still you want to act ignorant. So if I knock you to the floor, kick you repeatedly while you're down there and then step over you, it's not my fault right? I seriously thought of doing just that. I look at her again, nose in the air, lips turned up in irritation. What could I do? I pushed past her! If she wouldn't move on her own accord, I'd make her move! I used the force of my body to bump her body out of the aisle and out of my path. This way, I kept my mother's command to respect my elders. I didn't disrespect her by cursing at her, yelling obscenities at the top of my lungs and draw attention to us both. I didn't knock her down and beat her til the white meat showed like I thought to do. No, I just merely helped her to a decision she was delayed in making. Continue to do like your Mama says: Always respect your elders! Haha! That's Dani's Dose for the day.