'When you speak to people',' said Mum,

'You show them the courtesy of eye contact,

Clear diction and good sense.

You do not fuss with your clothes or your hair or your nails.

You do not shuffle your feet as if anxious to escape.

 Keep your fingers to yourself until a handshake upon departing -

If such is deemed appropriate.

 

Some folks call this behaviour 'courtesy', others 'etiquette'.

'Civilities' is a fine word.

I call programmed proprieties the 'power of grace'.

They acknowledge and accept

That no one is better than you and no one is less.

You interact as equals.

 

A gracious person is a pearl among people.

Anyone can perfect such social skill

Until it is as natural as breathing.

And utterly instinctive with anyone

Whom you will ever encounter - anywhere - any time -

Under any circumstance.

Equality is understood and respect is reciprocal.

 

This propriety of contact is exercised

With much finesse

Among the Eastern cultures of the world.

It is a beautiful thing to see, and experience.

 

Oh, just a reminder:

Washing is to keep clean, not get clean!'

 

And these words drip down from heaven

Constantly.