"Cracker Barrel Manners"

There will be no Bluegrass in this column, just some personal musings.

I think most of us have eaten at a Cracker Barrel Restaurant, at least once or twice.  I must admit, I eat there far too often, if that's possible.  I notice we act as most of us wish all Americans would really act every single day of the year.  Upon entering a Cracker Barrel it never fails that either we will hold the door open for someone or they will hold it for us.  We never fail to say, "Thank you."  Never!  We remain courteous as we walk around the "Old Country Store" part of the place; always excusing ourselves should we bump into someone and we are ever forgiving of those who might bump into us.

We sit in the rockers on the front porch and strike up conversations with complete strangers.  When the rockers are full we 'gentlemen' stand to allow women to sit.  We are 'Norman Rockwell' type Americans when we are there and at Cracker Barrel we simply wouldn't think of acting any other way.

Even if our food is late, we are usually kind and understanding when the waitress explains the problems.  Oh, I'm not trying to say that there aren't any jerks at Cracker Barrel, because there are.  But, they are the rarity.  Generally, we are on our best behavior at Cracker Barrel using the "Yes-mam's" and "Yes-sir's" and "Thank You's" and all of the other polite terms we learned as children at our parents knee.  I always look forward to this special civility upon arriving at Cracker Barrel.

But, now i wonder, "Why can't we be this way all of the time?"  Is the sugar just a little too sweet for daily consumption?  Is it just a little too "John Boyish" for us? Are we such a jaded society that being this way feels false to us?  I don't have the answers to these questions, but i do know that I love my trips to that All American place known as Cracker Barrel.

Folks, Cracker Barrel has no idea I have written this little essay and I have not been compensated for writing it.  I simply wanted to say what I have been feeling and thinking for a long time now.

"NUFF SAID!"