-^-for posterity-^-

every day i am shocked at how polite everyone is here. people walk around and say 'please' 'thank you' and anything else to lighten the mood and make us all feel special.

in a way, it all feels quite fake. the words are not used sincerely. people walk around and repeat the mantra that was beat into their heads as children.

i walk into a taco bell and ask for a taco and say thank you at least three or four times. i drive through a toll booth and say thanks to the man that is taking my change. why am i so polite with him? is he not just doing his job? am i thanking him for not stealing my money? for taking my money? for sitting in a small booth all day breathing in the exhaust of cars? why on earth would i be thanking him?

last night some people went to a performance at a gorgeous wood church. we sat and waited for the show to began and i had to stand up a couple of times to let the lady beside me pass through. i would always say, 'i'm sorry', or, 'excuse me' and didn't once mean it. the night digressed to the point where the man in front of me referred to a stranger as 'ma'am'. ridiculous. ma'am?

people are simply too polite. if i can walk into a 7-eleven and have the 300 pound man with a tattoo saying 'bumble nick' on his forearm to say thanks to me, i know i'm not in the right place.