At Your Service by Maggie Inge

It is the quiet hour on Main Street in Margaretville (that time after store closings and before people return to the restaurants for dinner). A spectre moves from place to place, weaving between the scant strollers and window-peepers. In each hand she carries water, nourishment for the flower barrels that line and lend their beauty to the lane they adorn.

People are often surprised to learn that I love country music; even more surprised to find that love matched by one for Italian Opera. It makes perfect sense to me. I love music that tells a story and is sung with passion. The things that surprise us about people are rarely as contradictory as they seem when we get the chance to see the full picture.

Last week racism took center stage in the national conversation – where it belongs. Whether we like to believe it or not, racism remains pervasive in our culture and has far reaching consequences. It will remain a divisive force, until we confront it head on; and that means we must talk about it.

In nature, the progression is clear: there is a seed, which falls upon fertile ground, from which sprouts a seedling that grows to maturity and produces more seeds. Some of those seeds then repeat the pattern. In human endeavors, while the process is the same, the progression is not always as clear – or is it?

It’s a pop quiz: I say, “Thank you,”; you say _____?

If your response is anything other than, “You’re welcome,” I invite you to reconsider. Giving thanks to someone is a spoken token of appreciation. Something the person did made a positive impact and we recognize the gesture. Responding with “you’re welcome” makes it personal and turns the sentiment back around.