This evening, I journeyed with the family to TPAC to watch my neice in her first dance recital.
(Proud Uncle Michael moment follows).
Of course, she was the best dancer in the entire show. Yes, they were all very good, but Gracelyn was, by far, the best.
I could be just a tiny bit biased here, though I don't really think I am.
(Proud Uncle Michael moment over...for now).
Gracelyn's part in the recital was right near the start and right at the end. I knew this going in and was patient, enjoying the work of the other participants. I applauded when appropriate, though I'll admit I applauded a little more after Gracelyn was done. I did resist the urge to give her standing ovation after each of her numbers. I had to remind myself that everyone there was a proud parent, grandparent, uncle, aunt, brother, sister or family friend. And they wanted to see and hear the apple of their eye get to perform.
But I've really got to ask a question--at what point did it suddenly become acceptable to whoop out in a loud voice, "Gooooooooooooooooo, (insert name of kid here)!" followed by a loud "Whooooooooo" that could go on any where from one to twenty seconds. What is the fine line between showing proud appreciation and acting like, for lack of a better term, a redneck. Honestly, it seems as if manners have flown out the window a lot these days and there's this pervasive "me first and forget about the rest of you people" attitude that permeates our day to day living. I think I've said it before and I'll say it again--common courtesy seems to have died a slow, painful death a couple of years ago and despite many attempts by a lot of us to bring it back or at least keep it on life support, it's fading fast.
Maybe I'm a prude. Maybe I'm old-fashioned. But honestly a war whoop is more appropriate for something like a sporting event as opposed to a dance recital at TPAC.
Is it just me?
posted by Michael Hickerson at 6/24/2006 10:18:00 PM |
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