We first met at a restaurant which is now one of our favorite places to visit. As a man, a former bleeding heart bachelor, stating that “we” have a favorite place makes me die a bit on the inside…. kind of like first noticing her tampons under my bathroom sink. Regardless…
As we were leaving the restaurant, I opened the door for her so she could pass in front of me. The gesture was complete with me escorting her through the doorway with my hand on the small of her back. Her green eyes lit up and she smiled at me… at the gesture… which was equal parts courtesy, respect, and desire to see her ass in motion. I call this move gluteal peekaboo.
When we arrived at my car, I opened the door for her again. She sat down, crossed her legs in a very lady-like fashion, glanced at me again, and I gently closed the door with her safely inside. After I took my rightful spot in front of the steering wheel, she spoke up and mentioned that my opening of the door for her was wonderful. Then, she said… “Why do you do that… open doors for me? I’ve never dated someone who does that.”
My first inclination was to tell her that she shouldn’t be dating cretins, that a man can have a slight, enticing, bad boy persona and still perform his gentlemanly role. Instead, I responded with “Well, you should fault my mother for raising me properly. That’s the root of the act. If it’s a problem for you, I can stop… but you should know that it will be difficult for me. Since we’re being honest, I have a bent for giving flowers as well.”
By the time she stopped awing… we were back at my place and pounding fur like Champagne d’Argents.
I’ve always been enamored of men who treat their women respectfully. But I’m also aware that when I walk in front of them, their eyes are running down my back.
The ability to balance the gentlemanly quality with natural, carnal desires is the root of the polymath.
THIS is the way to promote chivalry! I think I can hear it starting to breathe again…
Like many things, Mike, chivalry has a different wardrobe… to blend in with the younger generations. The important bit is that it is alive — there are twenty and thirty-somethings who treat women well. Although I have not inquired my elders, I would find it hard to believe that gents of the 1950s didn’t use their chivalrous tendencies to sack a kitten.
So, every woman should watch out for you then? There are many of us who fall for good manners. 🙂
Proper manners can be a mask or, perhaps, leverage for intent. Men are ninjas. Women do not have to worry about me… I’m very much taken. My girlfriend, on the other hand, is learning the ropes at warp speed. She is catching on to my intentions, but nothing will ever prepare her for the things that come out of mouth.
I have always given courtesies to women, even to my wife after all these years. It seems to be a lost art these days.
It is a lost art, Matty, a very lost art. I’m not sure if you’ve read it, but Glenn O’Brien (the Sartorial Conundrums writer from GQ) has published a book titled “How To Be a Man: A Guide To Style and Behavior For The Modern Gentleman.” It’s quite good.
Thanks for the tip.
Manners does have its rewards
Indeed.