Grandma Butler's husband, Tom, preceded her in death by about 5 years. They were active grandparents, and made sure that certain manners were taught in memorable ways. Grandpa Butler was a chivalrous gentleman, taking time to attend to his wife in the ways he should. The boys were taught the same way, and knew how to behave in mannerly ways with women.
Grandpa and Grandma Butler took Tommy, Dave, and two of their cousins (all between the ages of 9 and 13) on a trip once to meet some relatives in Tennessee, and also to head to Florida (I think). Like many children, they were especially happy when their grandparents took them to a hotel with a pool. The car would stop, the boys would rush out, and charge their way into the pool, splashing and playing for hours.
One day, the family pulled into a hotel with a pool, and the boys ran SCREAMING into the hotel, and immediately began splashing around and playing. Grandpa Butler sat on the edge of the pool keeping his eye on the boys as they had their fun. One by one, however, the boys stopped playing, and noticed something was odd. Where was Grandma? She should have been sitting right by Grandpa, and yet....oh no.......
OH MY GOSH. Grandma Butler was in the CAR- NO ONE had opened the car door for her. She had been sitting there, waiting for someone to let her out, for 45 minutes. The boys had all opened the car door for her on the trip- so they knew that someone forgot.
The boys RAN to the car to find Grandma Butler sitting in the front seat of the car, hands neatly folded in her lap, staring out the windshield. The boys all stumbled over one another to open the door for her, and she turned to them and smiled very politely, "Thank you, Tommy, thank you, Dave.....thank you, boys." She walked with them back to the hotel, and the world was right again.
From the first time I met Tom, I have never opened my own car door.
