Grumpy Grumperson

There’s a type of person you meet when you’re on holiday. I call them Grumpy Grumperson. They live in or near the places tourists flock to — famous landmarks, national parks, pretty little towns — and somewhere along the way, they decided they’ll expect visitors to know what the locals know. So they throw their hands up when a car ahead slows to figure out a turn. They honk when they see sense someone is tentative. They shake their heads when someone stands in the wrong part of the sidewalk, breaking a rule that’s obvious to them and invisible to everyone else. But of course newcomers are still figuring things out. Of course they’ll make mistakes. That’s what being new means. All it takes is a little understanding to meet them there. All of this inspired a note to myself: don’t be a Grumpy Grumperson. Wherever we live, there are newbies finding their feet. A little grace goes a long way.