Can you see me now?

I was at Wawa this morning filling up my coffee cup. The slightly older man who was working that area was right behind my pot, checking a new one. He was right  there. And made no attempt at eye contact, a good morning, or even a smile. Neither did most of the people in the store. They just walked by with vacancy signs for faces. All but one or two. The same is sadly true for many who work there, and other places. It it weren't for the products I enjoy, I'd just as soon stop going there.

What has become of customer service? What has become of kindness, courtesy, and politeness? What has become of human interaction? We are in the "Zombie Apocalypse." It is very easy to see dead people walking. And it seems to be more common by the day. We've come to the point where smiling and greeting a stranger is looked at as an abnormality. People think you either have something wrong with you, wonder at your motivations, or you must have won a contest or something. I mean, who does that? Well, there are some of us left. It's just getting harder to find us, and more awkward for us at the same time.

I told my wife about it in the car. I disagreed with her first point that people are afraid they'll be shot or attacked for simply saying hello. Sure, there is a time and a place to exercise caution. But really? She hit it on the head with her next observation. People just don't care anymore. Yeah, they care about their pets, their phones, their things. They care what they can get, as soon as they can get it, and who cares? How much time are we really giving to God, family, and friends? How much quality time are we taking with our spouses and children? How many people do we share a simple smile with?

Now, not all have ceased caring. Thank God! And we have to be the ones to give that gift of even a simple smile, given with the gift of genuine eye contact. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta said,

“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” Go out and give that gift away! This video is awkward, yet so beautiful. Please take the moment to enjoy it. And may it be a gift to you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wckdJqUvjE

Wanting To Remember

Here it is, 2:02 in the morning, and i'm awake for no apparent reason other than i hate to go to sleep. But it has been so long since i posted on here, i've forgotten most of what i have posted. Why post now? Not for anyone else, really. i know from experience that it is a fruitless and vain pursuit trying to get people to read my blogs. And for a man full of pride (and that pride has no valid basis) it's better that no one really does read these or like them.

What i did find in reading some of my past entries is that i've been bluntly honest, which i'm not sure was good or bad. i also found stories about my life and my family i had forgotten. So seeing as my memory is pretty much toast, it's great to be able to re-visit my memories. Thus this return. What has happened in 3 years? Far more than i remember or expected. My daughter is 4. Theresa and i are married 5 years now, and face the struggles many are familiar with. i'm taking a course in something i feel overwhelmed by. Paging Samuel has done more than i could have asked for, and is still going. And my struggle is to accept where we are not, but primarily my struggle is to put God first, then my family, then everyone else. Now to remember how.