A Blue Sunflower

One of Bubbie’s sisters, Sunflower, buzzed him on the telephone to give him the 411. Coincidentally she was grooving on the same vibe as Bubbie; he could hear it in her voice.
“What’s wrong?”
“What ever happened to common decency?” she replied.
“Oh, I know what you mean!” Bubbie exclaimed, “Please, tell me what’s going on.”

She proceeded to tell him how in a series of events she had hurt feelings due to the insensitivity and thoughtlessness of so-called friends and acquaintances. She had urgently taken a friend to the hospital, the emergency room namely, and had spent the better part of the day with her waiting for an indeterminate treatment. Surely, she thought, her family members would be along to sit with her, but hours passed. When a couple did arrive, they failed to even ask if they had eaten, which they hadn’t for 8 hours; Sunflower had not left her friend’s side for a moment during all that time and was ready for a break. Unfortunately it was late and the cafeteria as well as all the local stores were closed. Feeling worn and weary she walked outside and phoned a friend who abruptly cut her short. She later found out that she was dissed for a coquettish conversation with a cute neighbor. Sunflower was blue, and hurt. Her flirty friend never even said, “Sorry.”

We can all expound countless experiences of thoughtless exchanges where we were left standing aghast; if not physically, at the very least emotionally. What has happened to common decency? Is it so difficult to be kind? No; it’s just a manner lost. Our priorities are such that they revolve around our own crass agendas. We find entertainment in “reality” TV where rude hosts find sport in villainously crushing the hopes and dreams of willing self indulgent sycophants. We spill our guts and air our dirty laundry to anyone who will sit still long enough to listen. We purge our conscience by blaming our circumstances on others. It’s the decline of our society. We’ve had rules of decorum in place for thousands of years that have been replaced by punishable offenses of broken laws. Focus on one’s self chokes the light of society. In Bubbie’s view, that’s what has happened to common decency—but there is always hope for tomorrow.