Being Polite Isn't Totally Lost Yet

 Good Morning,

I just poured a hot cup of Door County Highlander Grog Coffee for myself and it is time to write. 

Ephesians 4:29 NIV Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

Last Friday we had some strong winds blow through our state. Once again we had some damage to our home due to the wind storm. I happened to be out and about picking up supplies for a church dinner being held on Saturday. That wind was "rocking". A young lady was in the parking lot of the food emporium trying to gather the shopping carts that had set themselves free to roam the parking lot. It was a losing battle for one person. As one of those runaway carts was headed to smash into the vehicle parked next to me, I was able to grab on to it and give it to the cart gatherer. I was able to fetch a few more with her and help her back into the store. 

The young lady was wind blown and a little tired. As I handed off my stack of shopping carts she looked  me straight in the eye and said, "Thank You Sir. Have a great morning despite this storm." I replied "Good Morning  Mam, You are welcome. Have a better day"

As I walked away I recalled some training I received during my work years when I was cautioned not to use the term "Mam" as it could insult some folks.   A cloud of doubt entered my mind. Did I just ruin a good deed by saying Mam?  My thought as I tried to justify my use of the term Mam was this. She called me sir first. I thought her polite greeting could be answered using politeness in return. I did not know the lady's name. Although addressing her by name was not called for. I am sure I was about fifty years older than her so she probably wrote me off as being old fashioned and not knowing better. I will probably make that mistake again and sometimes the way I was raised clobbers me when the world declares a change.  It's a shame when this world even impacts a civil response or greeting. Or makes you stop and think on how to respond so no one gets hurt.  The world has made a lot of changes in etiquette over the last ten years. I don't always roll with the changes so if we meet and I say good morning Mam or Sir just consider me the old goof who just can't change.

Have great day. 

Marty