A business owner actually asked me this.

Tic Tac O is a tiny lunch place at One City Center in Portland. They have been at this for over 35 years and have seen it all. I need to mention that Tic Tac O is run by two of the nicest humans on the planet, Erica and George. How do I know they are nice? Because they've run Tic Tac O and are married (and still married).

I've worked at One City Center off and on since the '80s. I have known Erica and George that whole time. They are kind people, and I love chatting with them. Erica asked me in complete seriousness,

Have you noticed that people are less patient and meaner these days?

This made me so sad, because I do agree. Erica and George are in the restaurant business (great Mexican food to-go), so I know they are on the front lines of short tempers.

When one of the kindest people on this planet asks if people are meaner these days, she's asking because people have not been nice to her.

Why aren't people as nice as they used to be in Maine?

It's a good question, and I don't know the answer, but I've noticed it, and I bet you have to. Just take all the storms we've had. People aren't patient with the plow trucks who are just trying to do their job. People have no patience when driving and bad weather be damned. That's not slowing them down one bit.

I'm not on a soapbox, but honestly Maine, everyone take a breath. Just be a little nicer, as it will make our little corner of the world easier to live in.