Playing Nice

Yesterday Roy actually got home on time from work. That is a rarity these days as his ability to leave is often dependent on whether or not heavy equipment can do its job. Things break down, or they have to wait on other companies' arrival...blah blah...and so his ability to get home by 5:00 is more often than not affected. It's all good--he "makes bank" when those things happen.

Anyway, I had to take Jace to Burleson and so Roy got home in time to play chauffeur. Now here is the thing with me: I am always happy for Roy to drive and then to tell him how to drive. Not too long ago Roy and I went out to eat with Tami and Chas. We always let the boys sit in the front seat as they talk a mile a minute (truthfully, Roy talks a mile a minute an Chas laughs at pretty much everything he says...) and Tami and I sit in the back and have our own conversation. For whatever reason on this particular trip, Roy decided to play me as Chas' backseat driver:

Don't you see those brake lights? This makes me crazy! Everyone else puts on the brakes and you put on the gas! (...throwing his hands up for effect and turning in his seat so that he can look at Chas in bewilderment...)

or...

Chas! Slow down! You're gonna get a ticket!

Naturally he was overly dramatic and made me look far more obnoxious than I am (absolutely--most definitely)...but it was funny nonetheless.

Anyway, as we were riding to Burleson (because that is what this whole thing is about), Roy got a phone call from a guy named Robby who is one of his supervisors from work.

"Hey, Roy--just checking on you. Making sure everything was good today. You know, you can always call me. I'm here for you, buddy. Even if I'm home--I only live ten minutes from the job site and I'll be there. Just call."

"Wow," I said, once Roy hung up. "Is he always like that?"

"Everyone is like that," Roy said. "That's why I love my job. Those people? They know how to play nice."

We are, of course, in the midst of this crazy election. I. Am. Dumbfounded. Like, seriously...it just makes me shake my head a little and consider not voting. I've always been a proponent of voting--one most take one's civil duty seriously and participate in what is one's right and one's responsibility as a citizen of this country. So for me to consider not voting? That's huge. I vote. Always.

And the truth is, I will vote this time as well.

But here is the thing:

People are crazy!

I am baffled at Facebook, at people's rants, at people's lack of tolerance. We are not playing nice in this election. It is like the candidates' lack of decency in many respects has given license to the public to just let it all hang out. We are bludgeoning each other with spiteful words.

Yesterday I hosted a luncheon in the cafeteria for women who are willing to volunteer at the university. All of these women are retired and give of their time just because...they're nice like that.

Recently we were coming home from Burleson. It was pitch black outside and as we rounded the corner on Old Betsy, we noticed a huge truck parked in the middle of the road, blocking traffic. Come to find out, a tiny kitten had made its way out into the middle of the highway and hunkered down, frightened. Seeing the kitten, this big guy blocked traffic while two teen boys rescued the kitten and took it home.

Recently I took Jace to the doctor--just a general practitioner. But this guy? He treats the patient as an individual. He got to know Jace, spent time with him, talked to him about who he is...and this doctor is treating Jace as Jace needs to be treated rather than by a book.

Human decency is still alive and well.

Sometimes I think we forget what life is about and we get muddled up in the drama.

Sometimes we just need to remember that life is a whole lot better when we all play nice.