Deborah Ford Quote
Recently, I attended a luncheon at the George Lindsey (Goober of Mayberry fame) Film Festival at my alma mater, the University of North Alabama. Good manners and polite social behavior were at the top of my list, for I know how often business deals get made and people fall in love over meals--my goodness!Seated right next to me was my friend Buddy Killen, a legendary songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. Everything seemed to be going fine until I looked over and saw that Buddy was eating my salad. I guess he forgot that your salad is always served on the right.Should I have ignored his faux pas? Skipped my salad to avoid making him uncomfortable? What was a Grits girl to do?I’ll tell you what: without a second thought, I turned to Buddy and said straight out, Excuse me, sir, I do believe you ate my salad! Never missing a beat, he waved the waiter over and said, Sir, I’m afraid you forgot Edie’s salad!With that, I got my salad and all honor was saved. Which just goes to show that being straightforward in a polite manner is never inappropriate. -Edie Hand
Recently, I attended a luncheon at the George Lindsey (Goober of Mayberry fame) Film Festival at my alma mater, the University of North Alabama. Good manners and polite social behavior were at the top of my list, for I know how often business deals get made and people fall in love over meals--my goodness!Seated right next to me was my friend Buddy Killen, a legendary songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. Everything seemed to be going fine until I looked over and saw that Buddy was eating my salad. I guess he forgot that your salad is always served on the right.Should I have ignored his faux pas? Skipped my salad to avoid making him uncomfortable? What was a Grits girl to do?I’ll tell you what: without a second thought, I turned to Buddy and said straight out, Excuse me, sir, I do believe you ate my salad! Never missing a beat, he waved the waiter over and said, Sir, I’m afraid you forgot Edie’s salad!With that, I got my salad and all honor was saved. Which just goes to show that being straightforward in a polite manner is never inappropriate. -Edie Hand