Old School

Went to two retirements yesterday, both long time labor leaders, both with an old school commitment to treat everyone cordially and respectfully regardless of their station in life, regardless of the time it took. Reminded me of my father, who could turn a short walk to the store into a long social outing. I recall the loss of Old School being vividly described in an Updike story called "the Gun Shop," read a long time ago, but I remember the modern urban father at the shop for a repair on a trip, unable to carry on a conversation with the owner, at a loss for words.