THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 3, 1995 TAG: 9512030054
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: PAUL SOUTH
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Manners, like all other things decent, have had mud splattered on their shoes by this graceless decade.
``Please'' and ``thank you'' have gone the way of phonograph records and afternoon World Series games, double features and a flower in the lapel.
But don't lose heart - the Junior Girl Scouts of Troop 2605 in Kill Devil Hills are coming to the rescue.
In this, the season of thanks and giving, the youngsters had been pondering things to be thankful for, and decided to spend a few minutes to express appreciation to someone who had touched their lives.
On recycled Christmas cards, they penned crayon messages to the famous - President Clinton and Manteo Elementary School crossing guard Belva Weeks - and to the not-so-famous. Teachers. Troop leaders. Moms and Dads.
In barely legible scrawl, and no doubt with tongues curling from their mouths a la Michael Jordan, they earnestly authored messages that lovingly cut to the chase.
``Dear Mr. President,'' one reads. ``Thank you for running for President. Let me say one compliment: you're a nice President.''
Newt Gingrich should be so lucky.
Another sent hers to a heavenly address:
``Thank you Jesus for keeping my Dad safe from the accident.''
Some of the children had more mundane concerns.
In blue and brown crayon, one card reads, ``Thank you Mom and Dad, for I have a roof over my head.''
Another reads, ``Thank you Miss Belva for helping children cross the street. It saves a lot of time. If we didn't have you, it would take forever to cross the street.''
It's human nature to remember to say thank you when someone gives you a large box wrapped in pretty paper and ribbon. We're thankful when a loved one is delivered from the shadow of death. We're blissful on payday.
We remember the big things.
But leave it to the kids from Troop 2605 to remind us that the little things count.
A roof over our heads.
Good health.
Crossing the street.
It should be little wonder to us that this lesson should come from the girls who, with their soft-pitched sales, help us remember the joy of cookies and milk.
And when you look at things through their eyes, there comes a startling, yet happy realization:
Each and every day we receive countless gifts from friends and strangers. And all we need give in return is a thank you.
I guess what I heard once is true.
Every day is Christmas. by CNB