Chocolate, Zucchini and Coffee Bundt

What ever happened to common courtesy?

We used to live in a world where people said “please” and “thank you”.  If the phone rang after 8:30p, it was likely an emergency.  No one sped in a residential area for fear a child may be walking aimlessly about.  Children were well mannered and if they seemed to be on the verge of misbehaving, all it took was one look from the mother or father, and you knew it would be handled.

Today… neighbors think nothing of coming home noisily at 4:30 in the morning.  Children play on handheld devices (at the highest volume, no less) and parents care more about the children’s entertainment and distraction in a restaurant, than the other patrons enjoyment of their meal.  I’m paying good money for my meal, too… why does my meal have to involve your inability to control your child?  People think it is okay to rest their shopping cart on your car while unloading groceries… but try doing the same to their car.

What happened to ‘do unto others”?

Recently, someone in the neighborhood died.  She had lived in the street for over forty years.  Before she was even buried, people were more concerned about how much her house would be listed for and who would be buying it.

It’s shocking really, how we act towards one another.  I don’t understand how it started or why people don’t stop it.  I can’t tell you how many people I listen to that complain about how other’s behave and then turn around with the exact same behavior.

Are we so rushed that we can’t take the time to not be so aggressive in traffic?  Are we so disempowered in one area of our lives, that we feel it is okay to victimize someone else?  Does someone is your life call you names, that you think it is okay to call another a derogatory term?  I have to tell you… I really don’t understand.

All I know is that it is starting to chip away at my heart.

Is it weird that I think it’s the fault of the news pundits?  I no longer have a television, but I did once and I am not immune to seeing such fodder on websites. We used to be able to debate.  No one was right or wrong. No one demeaned another for having an opinion. We had discussions about relevant topics.  We listened to one another.  Maybe it changed our opinion; maybe it didn’t.

Now, there is a whole host of television personalities calling one another names, accusations are flying, gossip is being mongered. It’s not news anymore.  There is no value to it.  I feel like it is just a group of people with the privilege of getting paid to hear themselves talk.  I’m guessing they get paid by the word, which is why they never stop and listen.

Sadly, though, I feel like these men and women are creating this instruction manual for how we all treat each other.

It doesn’t need to be this way.  Just so you know.

There was a time when people were shamed for their misbehavior. There was a time when we considered how it might impacted another, instead of feeling so entitled that we had to the right to do whatever we wanted.  You don’t, you know….have that right.  We are all on this spaceship together.  My opinion is that we better start figuring it out, again.

There was a time when someone died that the only appropriate behavior was to deliver a homemade something, anything, and wished the family well, hoping that your little treat might alleviate some of the stress the upcoming weeks may hold.  Because, we all know that gestures of courtesy are what we are truly being judged for.

Chocolate Zucchini and Coffee Bundt <— click here for enlarged pdf recipe card