On Manners, Jane Austin and the Comedy of Keeping Up Appearances

Life with a 100-year-old, week 3

A post by Frederick Buechner on Gentlemen/Gentlewomen reminded me of my own somewhat contradictory response to the importance of manners and appearances.

I have been known to crack to my sons, as my betters were known to crack at me:

“Keep your head out of your food…don’t slurp…don’t mumble…don’t interrupt an adult conversation…sit up straight…you look s…