The little things sometimes confirm that civility and civilization really aren’t dead after all.

Recently I witnessed this evidence.

As I approached a busy intersection in a four-lane road in Lewiston I saw one of those maneuvers we all know and hate. A long line of vehicles, waiting to turn left at the intersection, was passed by a vehicle in the right lane until the point where they had to declare their desire to turn left too, putting their left blinker light on at the last possible location.

Positioned behind that driver in the right lane I assumed it would be a long wait before my lane would clear. But no, a woman in a compact car in the left lane waved in the one who apparently never learned how to wait their turn in line. Indeed, it was no surprise that I saw no “wave of thanks” from the offending driver.

So, as I approached on the right I stopped and called out to the gentile woman. “You’re a nice person,” I shouted. She shrugged and said, “I try.” And, after a brief pause, “I’m a kindergarten teacher, so it’s required.”

I laughed, knowing that it certainly wasn’t universal.

It struck me as we went our separate ways that I couldn’t know her political leaning or voting record. Nor, to my surprise, did I care. She was a kindly woman who had made a small gift to a fellow citizen in need.

And really, that was all that mattered.

Gregory D’Augustine, Greene


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