Pet peeves

We all have them. Those little things people do that just get under our skin. For some hearing one or seeing one of them can just ruin their days. Me, I get a little irritated then move on.

1. Inconsiderate drivers…you know the type. When you are trying to change lanes or merge, these bozos speed up to prevent you from making the move. How about those who pass you on the highway or interstate then cut you off only to exit as soon as they do? There ought to be a law! Tailgaters…. no explanation necessary. People who drive too slow in the left lane. Then there are those who keep turning left across traffic even though the green turn signal has already gone from yellow to red. My husband figures all these folks must brain surgeons rushing to get to their next emergency surgery. Just so you know, Virginia Beach has a BUNCH of brain surgeons.

2. . Incorrect grammar…either spoken or written. Unfortunately, these days, I must turn a deaf ear and blind eye to this one, or I would be going crazy. There is nothing worse than reading an application, letter, report or resume with misspelled words, misplaced or missing punctuation, improper verb tense or pronoun agreement. Some days I wonder if schools even teach grammar any more. I sure hope my spell and grammar check works!

3. Youngsters who don’t say yes ma’am, no ma’am, yes sir and no sir. I have heard that this is a Southern practice, and that our neighbors to the North consider these phrases to be somewhat derogatory and use them sarcastically. All I can say to that is thank goodness I was raised as a proper Southern Belle. There is something to be said for that good old Southern charm and gentility.

4. Northerners who come south to benefit from the lower cost of living and then complain about the slow pace of life or constantly speak of how much better things are where they came from. If you’re not happy go home. We like it the way it is.

5. People who won’t give way when walking toward you on a narrow passage or sidewalk. I can’t tell you how many times I have been nearly knocked over or at least had to veer off a path, because someone walking toward me wouldn’t turn a little or slow down as I did so we both can get by.

6. People who don’t say please and thank you…a forgotten courtesy.

7. Anyone, anywhere who won’t give up a seat, or at least offer to, for an elderly person or someone who definitely needs a seat more than they do.

8. Anyone who breaks in line.

9. Politicians whose only goal is to get re-elected every term. They change their ideals, stances, and even party affiliation as often as I change my sheets.

Anyone ever heard of Arlen Spector? Jim Jeffords? Michael Bloomberg?

10. Any mention of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Brittany Spears, or Madonna on a newscast.

11. Al Franken.

Most of these are pretty easy to live with, but one of my biggest pet peeves is what I consider the misuse of the words courage and bravery. Someone who stands in front of a crowd to tell jokes or takes on a controversial role in a movie isn’t brave or courageous. These are skills that are honed and perfected over time. A black man giving a speech about dreams of racial equality in front of a crowd of people who would just as soon see him dead because of the color of his skin is courageous. Jumping off a bridge attached to a bungee chord isn’t brave or courageous. It is thrill seeking. Jumping out of an airplane attached to a parachute in the dead of night into a desert full of terrorists with RPG’s, IED’s, and whose sole purpose in life is to kill you; that’s courage. Admitting an addiction isn’t brave or courageous. It is certainly scary, but not courageous. Frankly, in our society it is probably more of a status symbol to have a stint in rehab under your belt…especially for Hollywood types. Standing up to an overbearing boss might be nerve wracking and difficult but not brave or courageous. Standing down a tank to protest the lack of freedom in your society is brave and courageous. Riding a roller coaster, watching a scary movie…not brave or courageous. Seeing a fellow Marine, soldier or other service member killed in action and then recovering his lifeless body while under enemy fire is truly the epitome of courage and bravery. Driving a racecar 200 miles an hour around an oval racetrack… risky behavior certainly, and obviously, it takes nerves of steel, but I do not consider it courageous especially when the pay off for winning is so financially rewarding. Sitting on top of a rocket whose engines are full of highly combustible fuel ready to be launched into space for the first time in history, knowing you could fry on the launch pad or burn up on reentry; definitely courageous.

I could go on, but you get the point. I am sure a dictionary definition would contradict some of my examples. In my mind, though, courage or bravery should be used to describe an act performed that risks one’s life and limb to save another or to advance a cause that betters humanity without expectation of recognition or financial reward. I don’t much care what the dictionary says. This is Tracieland, and what I say goes!