November 21,2021 RESPECT

Whatever happened to respecting elders?  Respect--"due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others." That's the respect I'm talking about. I'm shocked by the lack of respect the younger generation shows today.  When did this become okay? So--do kids NOT respect their own parents anymore? Is that where this comes from? Is it the trickle down effect? Are parents not behaving in a manner that fosters respect so that kids aren't learning it at home?  I NEED TO KNOW. When I was I kid--my brothers had to take their hats off and put a shirt on if they wanted to eat a meal. NO elbows on the table and PLEASE AND THANK YOU WERE THE MAGIC WORDS. Once--I actually held "the door" so long that -- I  missed a whole day of school. On a serious note--I'll never forget the ONE time I was disrespectful to my grandfather. I actually told him to "Shut Up" because he was teasing me about  being chubby. I was in fifth grade AND MY WORLD actually stopped for a minute. The shock and hurt in his eyes was more than I could bare. I apologized immediately but the hurt had been done.  I have never used those words again to tell someone to be quiet. I was being disrespectful--took responsibility--and learned a hard lesson. Maybe the problem is that parents don't make kids take responsibility anymore?? Or is it that parents don't take responsibility?  HUMMMM........on to bigger and much better things. I just finished reading one of my favorite authors--Amor Towles new book The Lincoln Highway. Emmett, one of the main characters, has just been released from a juvenile work camp after serving time for involuntary manslaughter. After being  dropped off at the family farm in Nebraska, Emmett is finally reunited with his eight year old brother, Billy, but they soon discover that they are not alone. Two of Emmett's friends from the camp, Duchess and Woolly have shown up needing help. All Emmett wants to do is leave Nebraska in his studebaker with his little brother to start over--and possibly find their mother in California-- but reluctantly agrees to give his friends a ride to Omaha first.  Once they arrive in Omaha, Duchess and Woolly take off in Emmett's  car leaving the brothers in pursuit of the car--that is now in New York--where they meet a cast of characters that make the story one hell of a ride. This highly entertaining story is a long ride down the Lincoln Highway that you will be sad to see end. It's about 600 pages or a 6 mile ride that I thoroughly enjoyed.