"HERE'S WHAT I WORE"
Skirt: Brown plaid vintage from who-knows where
Blouse: JCrew
Cardi: JCrew
Shoes: Ferragamo
THE ACCESSORIES:Pocketbook: Croc by Ferragamo
Headband: Ferragamo
Lipstick: 'Talisman' by Chanel
Cologne: Ferragamo
Ponytail bow: Ivory grosgrain ribbon
Readers: Tortoise shell
Wedding Band: 'Eternity' by Cartier
Earrings & Bracelet: Pearls by Ralph Lauren
Shoes: 'Vara' croc pumps by Ferragamo
After Church, I had my Sunday Dinner {lunch} at Panera Bread. As usual, I kept an eye open to those around me...how they behaved themselves at the table, how they sat, et cetera. I can't help it. I'm a people watcher and naturally, being a dining etiquette snob, I do watch the way others behave at the table. Yes, other people do notice your table manners and how you conduct yourself at the dining table...especially in public. As usual, I saw some pretty bad examples of dining etiquette today.
But I was more shocked by the language of four young girls I saw in a department store at the tacky mall after dinner. These girls could not have been older than 16. Now, I know times are changing and young girls are not the same today as they were when I was 16. Back then, I was always dressed to shop in my Sunday best with stockings and gloves and making sure I was on my best behavior, just in case one of Mama's friends was also out and about. Not these girls I saw today! No ma'am! As I stood nearby going through some cute loot on the rack, I heard the most filthy language coming out of their mouths. I thought to myself, "It's one thing to cuss in private, but to talk like that...out loud, so anyone can hear you?" This cussing every other word went on and on and on. Like it IS their vocabulary. One of the girls glanced over at me and said "Sorry." I kind of smiled at her and asked her "Does y'all's Mamas know y'all talk like that in public?" One of the tackier girls of the group said "I learned to talk like this from my Mama." I just gave her my 'Miss Janice look.' How pathetic is that...to learn to cuss like a sailor from your Mama.
I'm sure that I have told y'all before that during my entire lifetime, I have never heard my Mama utter a cuss word. At her most stressful moments in life, she might say "I swannee," which means "I swear" in Southern talk and is Mama's idea of cussing, since a Southern lady with manners would never even say "I swear."
Cursing has become so natural to some that it seems to be the only way they can express themselves. This kind of public tackiness is eating away at our civility y'all. What do you think? Or dare I ask?
19 comments:
I totally agree!!!! I was just telling my husband of something very similar that happened while I was out shopping with my two boys. We had just finished a shopping trip at Target and was loading our car. Two young men were talking in a car next to ours. The language that was coming out of their mouth was disgusting. I couldn't believe it. They didn't care who was around. As a teenager, I would have never talked like that, especially in public. What has happened to respecting others and having manners?
The whole cussing thing has gotten so out of hand! Keep in mind it isn't just with teenagers. I work at a college and you would be surprised to hear the language that some people handle in public.
I think that everyone should have to take an etiquette class in college. Etiquette should be part of every curriculum like English, Math and Science.
Love your blog... :)
I teach high school and agree completely. As worse is their habit of throwing themselves at boys. I was never allowed to even call a boy unless it was to return his message. Now, in this electronic age, they have full access. I am constantly preaching, "Nice girls do not call their beaux!"
"This kind of public tackiness is eating away at our civility y'all."
I could not agree with you more! It's very sad.
So true! I wish this were the exception and not the norm. Our society is sadly lacking in civility. I, too, am a teacher and witnessed a female co-worker do something so incomprehensible the other day that I am still reeling from it! I will spare you the gory details, but it involved clearing her throat and removing the contents from her mouth while in the presence of others! I shudder!
First I must say how pretty you look, Miss Janice! And then I have to say that I am not at all surprised. The last 5 years or so that I taught high school, the girls began to use more and more profanity...worse than the boys, who usually at least had enough manners not to use bad language in front of me. It is sad...but I can tell you after meeting some parents that indeed the apple does not fall far from the tree. Happy Sunday...hugs...Debbie
I totally agree with you. I have never seen such rude behavior as I have witnessed in todays world. I have never cussed in my life and that is all I see young people do today. There is a lack of civility that has hurt society. I work at a school with young children and I work hard to teach them manners since they don't seem to learn them at home.
That would've been a great opportunity to take them on as students and teach them how to carry themselves with pride.
Change starts with the parents! Children do as their parents.
Just like your mama - would never consider thinking a cuss word - to classy. Her manners came from the inside out, and you're the same.
Have a wonderful week Miss Janice and know you are adored! xoJoy
Just like my momma, always blowing on her nails as we walked out of the house on Sunday morning!
I would have been mortified to caught behaving like that!
It is like your were reading my mind. My son plays competitive baseball with other 14 to 16 year olds. The language I heard today out loud and proud made me sick. However the parents were not any better. I had to ask a parent to quit using that language around my children. I am not that old yet I know so much better and proudly my kids do too! I so wish people took public behavior more seriously.
Miss Janice,
Only a gracious southern lady could have gotten away with making a comment to those girls. Around here, they might have not appreciated my comment and who knows what could have happened. Isn't it just amazing that they think speaking like that is alright. My mother always told me that using profanity was just a sign of weak vocabulary. I remember rolling my eyes (where she couldn't see me) but I'm glad I listened.
You are tooooo funny taking time to put a coat of polish on before church!!! I laughed because that's something that would have bothered me, too.
Warmly, Kathleen
Miss Janice: I totally agree with you. My son just started cotillion classes yesterday afternoon and I was thinking how nice it would be if cotillion classes were required in every middle school. So sad that nowdays, most cussing is learned from rude adults.
I am always appalled by teenagers language. I have to say I'm not surprised by it, but am still always shocked by how flippant they are with their language in public!
Good for you, Miss Janice! It's a shame they had to learn from a stranger the things their Mama should have taught them at home!
Miss Janice,I am a third generation Charleston, SC native. I understand all your references, I love your blog. Adults, seniors, and teens and younger have the worst manners. We use to dress for a day into town from our grandparents beach home, visit relatives and friends and never ask for a drink of water, it is "old school" if behaving in a civil manner.I could go on and I know you could as well. We regularly hear cursing when out and on TV.....all ages. Thank you for your wonderful blog. My youngest daughter is also an avid reader of yours!Thank you inspiration and encouragement.
It is disgusting. And then they wonder why they treated disrespectfully. Daddy cusses like a sailor. Always has and still does, but his 7 kids don't. We knew it wasn't right and didn't get in the habit of cussing.
Lori
(Lmsbartow)
Ugh...so horrible, Miss Janice. You can only imagine what I see (and hear) at the beach. Especially during spring break, graduation, etc. When I was a young girl, I wouldn't even go the mailbox unless I was dressed and had on makeup. These girls today, they don't even care what they look like...so why in the world would they care how they talk? Loved this post! As always, you're right on the money! :-) XOXO
www.shopaholicinalabama.blogspot.com
Oh. How very very sad! "I learned to talk this way from my mama"! That just makes me want to cry.
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