Red and Rover by Brian Basset for April 16, 2024

Rover likes to eat but is glad not to eat at the table as Red does.

Table manners are so over-rated!

Red’s parents are doing a great job teaching him table manners! I’m amazed that so many of the adults I see do not have good table manners—my pet peeve is people who talk while they are chewing food. Ugh.

Bossy dog….in the morning????

There is a reason that the work mother and manners both start with the letter M. Because they can both be monotonous.

And then, there is Brother Marvin. I don’t see the family resemblance…

Looking good, Red

Most etiquette rules have a clear rationale,

But in childhood, I never was able

To figure out why it was deemed impolite

To put elbows on dining room tables.

Some grown-ups today say there isn’t a reason,

At least none that still would apply.

Supposedly, tables were trestles and gave

Less support in the eras gone by.

But now I’m aware of a number of reasons

That might just hold water today.

For one, those beside you who want to make eye contact

Find both your arms in the way.

You’d have to lean forward, and that kind of posture

Can look rather lazy and flip.

Your stomach compresses as well, which is bad

For the path of the eaten food’s trip.

In crowded arrangements, there isn’t much room,

And your elbows take up more estate.

To some, it’s aggressive. Besides, there’s a chance

That you’ll lean on a glass, bowl, or plate.

That said, even etiquette mavens agree

That the rule needn’t always be followed

At casual mealtimes and during a chat

When the last bite of food has been swallowed.

—me

Keep your elbows off the table,This is not a horse’s stable…