"Chivalry is dead!"

I was into the early stages of my business trip that day. My usual procedure is to drive to the airport, get through security and get into the terminal before I consider eating anything for breakfast or lunch. When I enter the terminal area but before proceeding to the gate I usually stop at the coffee kiosk assuming, of course, that there is time. This one was like so many others you find in the airport. It had two areas on opposite sides to place and pay for your order. Once you get your coffee there is a separate area for customizing it to your own particular taste.

Naturally, I stepped into the queue (that's a line for the Bauer’s that may be reading this) and waited my turn. Several other customers followed suit. As the customer ahead of me stepped forward and began to place her order a couple in their early 60's sidled up to her and engaged in a conversation about their travels. They had matching shirts, were kind of cute and very excited about where they had been. Hawaii I think. I could tell from their accent that they were from the New York area. They continued their discussion until the customer received her order and began to leave. They cordially said their ‘good byes’ but to my surprise, the couple did not move to the end of the line. After all, they could see the line and there were several people behind me waiting too.

My mind began to enter into the common battle between being kind and being fair. You know the one. “These people have a lot of nerve cutting in line like that!” I thought to myself. “It’s o.k. No real harm. Besides, their order won’t take up too much time.” I continued. But finally, I thought, “No. I would not do this and they should respect the practice of getting in line like the rest of us. Wait, they didn’t even acknowledge that we were here! They have no respect for the fact that we have been waiting. This is clearly not right.”

As the women began to stammer out her order I tapped her on the shoulder and pointed out that the line formed BEHIND me. They both turned to see all those waiting in line and reluctantly decided to move across to the other side of the kiosk to place their order. Before leaving the man said, “Chivalry is dead!”

I bit my tongue!

The woman behind me did not. She leaned forward and said to me, “No. There is a line here and they should get in it!”

As I was walking to the gate with my Vanilla Cafe Latte reflecting on this simple engagement, I began to chuckle to myself. “I can hear this couple now when they return to their home and begin describing to friends and relatives how much they enjoyed their travels. I’m sure there will be the off comment about that rude and impolite man at the airport! ‘It’s a shame what people have become’ they’ll say.”

Yes. It is.