My friend wants to be polite and around here that includes being punctual, as in ring the doorbell at the appointed time, neither earlier nor later. But in-town traffic and country roads are hard to gauge. Arriving early is very intrusive and frowned-upon as is arriving late. The friend's house is out in the country where there are no alternative roads near the house. If conditions are more favorable than expected, is it good manners to drive around the circular driveway in front of the house for ten minutes to use up the extra time? Or, do you advise waiting quietly in the car? Or, is it better to simply knock on the door early and be a bother?
David Livermore, in his Great Course, discusses an energetic New York businessman who took a vacation in a quiet waterside Mexican village. He noticed a fisherman who went out in his boat each day and shortly returned with a big catch of fish. The New Yorker struck up a conversation, noting that the fisherman usually came in with a big load. "Oh, yes", said the fisherman,"there are plenty of fish. Why, I could catch fish all day long if I wanted to." The New Yorker advised him to fish longer and make more money. He sketched out steps by which the Mexican could become head of a large corporation, owner of a whole fleet of fishing boats. The Mexican might even get wealthy enough that he could retire and take up residence in a quiet friendly village, like the one they were in. The Mexican was puzzled by the New Yorker and his ideas. Should the fisherman stay out longer each day?
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Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
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