Stunned Speechless

It is the time of year when I am struck speechless by the scenes which whirl about me.  What you ask?  What scenes have rendered you speechless, Hen?

Is it the beauty of the Christmas decorations on houses, the twinkling lights making the snow sparkle,  the richly decorated trees with their assortment of hand-made paper ornaments of children and  ornaments given by loved ones no longer with us,  the tinsel making sparkles on the wall as the sun shines through the window.

No, gentle reader, it's not that which has stunned me speechless.

Well, Red, is it the wonder of the Advent season, the familiarity of the old, old, story,  the awe  of sound of the carols being sung by a 60 voice choir,  the peace that descends as the last chord dies away? 

No, gentle reader, it's not that which has stunned me speechless.

Is the look on the faces of your children as they watch the classic Christmas programs, the same ones you watched as a child, or decorate the gingerbread house or help wrap presents, and lose themselves in the excitement of the season, even the 13 year old when she forgets she's too cool to enjoy herself and not thinking everything is lame?

No, gentle reader, it's not that which has stunned me speechless.

What then, Red, what has caused this speechlessness?

It is the absolute fucking rudeness, the total lack of consideration and the complete self-absorbtion of people.  The people who get up and walk out during a band concert, not at an appropriate break in the program but RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A SONG,  the people who let their toddlers RUN AROUND the gym (with its wooden floor) during the concert,  the people who TALK ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CONCERT and not quietly unless their kid is performing,  the people who stand in the aisle to take a picture and THEN CONTINUE TO STAND thereby blocking everyone else's view until the Hen told her to sit down.  Yes, I did. 

Yes, gentle reader this all has occurred in the last few weeks and it has totally had me gobsmacked.  I am absolutely stunned at how rude people can be.  And I shouldn't be because I say the same thing every year.  Only this year, it seems worse. 

Is it just me or have people become ruder and less considerate?