Tha Ancient Art of .....Etiquette

I posted this on Facebook last evening.  It did provoke some conversation.  It appears that those of us over 60 understood perfectly the idea of a little decorum at the dinner table. Once again, a generational thing.  We generally all had meals together as children. We waited for Mom to sit before we dug in and we used cloth napkins and placed them in our laps without being prompted.  We kept our elbows off the table and we took a little of everything and ate it all.  We chewed with our mouths closed, shoulders back and our knockers up... those of us with knockers.....(we didn't call my sister, Pirate Christie and her sunken chest, for nothing.) Slouching was a no-no at our table. We all knew how to properly set the table and that the blade of the knife always faced your plate. Hats were never an option at the table and they were only for outside anyway. Mom cooked, we cleared and did dishes. The sink was subject to inspection before we left the kitchen and water marks weren't acceptable. I'm sure you'd think my Dad was a descendant of the military but not so....he was a descendant of Etiquette.  None of these things seemed demanding or over the top.....that was just the way it was...no questions asked..no complaints made.  It appears that along with being taught a modicum of etiquette, the respect was a natural progression.  Excuses today include the lack of time, the hustle and bustle of today's families, the economy forcing many to work multiple jobs including the kids and my favorite...lack of importance.  It's really no different than please, thank you and you're welcome. If you're taught it from the time you can focus, it becomes second nature...Thank you follows God bless you, you're welcome follows thank you and please should lead most everything.
One of last night's "conversers" said they learned it in Girl Scouts, another 4-H and even another said they were actually schooled in etiquette when they were out of the country at a Scottish wedding. Some shared their Moms were the teachers too. Several admitted they were rednecks and others thought it was much ado about nothing.  I'm sure many think that what was apropos 50 years ago may be obsolete today.... Not me. There's not much that trumps appropriateness and respect and nothing better than a tea party to teach it.  Right Bailee?