Yo. Wass up?

Let's visualize this scenario.

Two people, who are acquaintances or somewhat friends, are walking from two different directions and will intersect at some point. At this point they recognize each other and know that they must say something. Each says "Hi. How are you?" and then they are both on their merry ways and didn't even hear the response to their greeting.

I don't understand this new cultural greeting. If you didn't want to hear how I was, then why did you ask me? My bishop today was going around and I noticed that he really wasn't building off the question just merry saying hello with some extra baggage. So when he came to me he said the exact same thing that he said to everyone else, I didn't answer him. And what did he do? just moved on to my roommate not even missing a beat. My roommate then leaned over afterwards and asked why I didn't answer him. We then had a conversation in hushed tones about polite social greetings and why we say what we say. I'm pretty sure that fifty years ago, where people were polite and life moved more slowly, that they didn't ask anything that they didn't want to hear the answer to. People actually stopped and listened to how your life was going instead of just ignoring you and walking past.

Today, it may be cultural, but so is eating 27 hot dogs in 3 minutes, eating disorders, and an odd fetish with duct tape. We are a waning population that uses niceties. What happened to geniality in our lives? When you find it, please tell me where it is.

Daddy's Little Girl

I just talk with a boy that asked if I was a Daddies Girl. I replied somewhat defensively as since I believed him to be teasing me. This was my reply (it was a text) "Yes, my dad took time out of his busy life to do things with me. Like teaching me how to work, train hunting, going to DQ when all the other kids were at mutual and scouts. And probably when I get married he will cry. So Yes, I am my daddy's little girl. And I love him." He replied that he figured since the way that I act and talk would imply that I am. This thoroughly confused me since I didn't know I had a neon sign above my head telling the world that I'm well cared for by my parents.
I have lived a sheltered life, i've realized. Both my parent's loved me and didn't abuse me in anyway. They gave me a clean, safe, and healthy home to hide in when my teenage years were depressing and insulting. I have no idea how people, who don't have these blessings, survived the rough sea of middle/high school. I hated those years, but because of my parent's love, I did not take the wrong path which I would later regret. I am now here, in Mormonville, where I assume everyone has had the sheltered childhood like me when growing up.

This boy whom I was talking to, however did not. He was angry at his father for always looking down on him, and his mother had very strict controlling rules. As since then, he patched up his relationship with his mother, who he calls by her first name, but his father's relationship is still a mess. I feel for this poor fellow. It's not that his parent's weren't bad, he just didn't receive what I had the blessing to receive. Honestly, I don't know how he got out of his low-mormon community without a tattoo, drug or alcohol use. Maybe he did, and I just don't know it, but obviously he has since repented because he is now attending BYU and has a temple recommend (I think). He must have a very strong spirit. I'm impressed.

So Thank you Dad (And mom) for waking me up early on Saturdays to go work at the church farm, to weed gardens, to plant corn, or to mow lawns. To taking me out late at night to chase trains. And to open up your busy work and church schedule to do some dirty business with me when I was all alone while growing up (everyone else had scouts/mutual/etc.). Letting me snuggle with you while watching sports or John Wayne marathons on the tv. Taking me with you to your agriculture classes at the Aravaipa Campus. And for making me learn the proper way to collect pecan samples even when trying to beat the Shakers. Thank you Dad. You have taught me what to look for in a husband. I want my kids to have the same opportunity to have a loving and protective father like I had.

I love you Dad.