In a world where even the president of the United States speaks like a punk and advertises his illiteracy whenever he tweets, I'm always delighted to encounter people who have some respect for the English language.
I was strolling along our local rail trail the other day when I met a diminutive woman in, I would guess, her 70s. She was walking a tiny white dog decked out in a colorful sweater. I never pass up an opportunity to pet a dog, so I asked my standard opening question in these situations: “Is your dog friendly?”
Normally, people simply say yes or no, or launch into an animated and entertaining monologue about their dog’s quirks in the "greeting strangers" department. But not this time.
“Yes,” the woman said ever so slowly, “if you present yourself properly by letting her sniff your hand.”
So I did as I was told. Assuming a suitably deferential bearing, I presented myself properly to the four-legged queen before giving her a few pats. Perhaps that was a bit forward of me, but her majesty didn't seem to mind.
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