At one time in our community, when someone had done us a service, we would acknowledge it, with a “thank you”. Those words are seldom heard anymore. They have been replaced by the innocuous order to “have a nice day”. My occasional response is, “No thank you, I have other plans!” The reaction is usually an uncomfortable laugh as the well-wisher realizes something is missing. Whatever happened to “thank you”? 

Recently I went through the drive through of a local fast food franchise. The usual process was followed, order into a talking sign, hear a monotone voice repeat my order and tell me how much I owe. I am then ordered to “pull around to the next window”. No “please” here, no “thank you” either. I followed orders and drove to the designated window where a sullen young woman repeated the amount I owed. I handed over my hard earned money, which was received without the slightest acknowledgement. I waited for my change that was handed to me without comment and not even a hint of gratitude.  “You’re welcome”, I replied to her silence. 

She looked at me and said, “Am I supposed to say “thank you” here?” I was stunned at the insolence.

“Yes, that is exactly what you should say. I have just handed you more money than you are going to make this hour, and you should be grateful.” Her reply was laughter. It was an uncomfortable, confused laugh, but nonetheless, laughter, and it rankled me.

I asked to see her manager. After a discussion concerning blocking the drive-thru, followed by my continued, smiling, insistence, the young woman glared at me and went to find her manager.

A man approached the window and politely said, “Sir, how can I help you?” He was smiling.

“Are your people trained to be courteous?”

“Yes, they are.  It is required”.

“Are they trained to say “thank you”, or is that optional?”

“No, they are specifically told to say ‘thank you’. Is there a problem?”

“Yes, there is.”

He then asked me to pull into the parking area. He was courteous, and I did as he asked. We had a discussion about the appropriateness of gratitude and its expression. I left satisfied and gratified that someone had taken a few moments to listen to me, and had said “thank you”, appreciating my business. I have since visited this particular restaurant several times and am pleased to report that everyone says “thank you”.  

I have a habit, taught to me by my father, to hold a door open for a lady. I do this every time the opportunity presents itself, and am surprised when I get a “thank you”. Most often, I get silence which gets my “your welcome” response. That surprises some of the ladies when they realize how discourteous they have been, but most just keep walking. Whenever anyone has done you a service, no matter how small, they have thought of you before themselves, and that deserves a “thank you”. 

How much more pleasant would your day be if you heard “thank you” a few times?  How much would it mean to others to hear you say “thank you”? Go ahead, make my day, say “thank you”. It will make me smile and I’ll say, “You are welcome”… and mean it.

David Wilson Atwood is a local writer whose human-interest columns offer a unique perspective. He may be contacted, at www.starchasers.us or david@starchasers.us.