Showing Respect & Count Your Blessings

I had a routine dental appointment for September 26th, but considering that’s in the middle of the time I’m supposed to be in Alaska, I called up the dental office to reschedule. As I told them, if I have to choose between going to the dentist and going to Alaska, it’s a no-brainer. Sorry guys, you lose out!

However, instead of going sometime after I got back, it turned out they had an opening today. The receptionist said, “Don’t you want your teeth to look all clean and white for your trip?” I sort of doubt anyone is going to notice, but okay, I went.

I was on my way there, traveling down a 4-lane highway, when all of a sudden I saw a bunch of police cars with their lights on coming in the other direction. It quickly became obvious they were escorting a funeral procession.

All other traffic stopped in both directions. Yes, even on the opposite side of the highway, our two lanes came to a halt and waited for the procession to go by.

I had a fleeting thought about making it to my appointment on time, then caught myself. What was so important it couldn’t wait 5 minutes so I could show my respect to a grieving family? What if it was one of my loved ones in that hearse and we were on the way to the cemetery?

I got to wondering if people all over the country followed this custom, or it was unique to the south. I tried to find information online about laws pertaining to traffic and funeral processions, and came across more than one discussion about the subject. I discovered that many people are positively incensed at the thought they should have to wait a few minutes for a “line of cars for a dead person” to go by.

Well, for one thing, while it does show respect for the dead, it's even more for the living, and allowing the mourners to all get to the cemetery at the same time.

So why do some people have such a problem with it? It’s not like a funeral procession going past happens that often, and even when we have to wait on one, it’s no worse than waiting for a train to go by.

Manners. Being polite. Showing respect. Consideration for others. Civilized behavior.

There seems to be a definite decline in all of the above, but most especially when we get behind the wheel of a car. We can’t wait, we have to be somewhere instantly! What’s the matter with all those other idiots on the road!?!

Maybe it’s time to slow down a little, to remember what used to be common courtesy.

Maybe it's time to count our blessings, that we're not part of that funeral procession for instance.

Maybe it’s time to show respect for both the living and the dead.