It ended last night.

On the heart-wrenching strains of Auld Lang Syne, the picture panned away from a snow-covered Downton Abbey, and the story of the Crawley family, as we know it, came to a close.

I cried. I know it’s ridiculous, but tears fell as things worked out for a reformed Thomas, a tragic Lady Edith, beautiful Anna and her sweet, but mysterious, Mr. Bates, and we even saw the bloom of compassion in a newly happy Lady Mary. All of them really, upstairs and down, walked into the rest of their lives on a good note, and it was a wrap up to the story that my heart craved.

But I’ll miss them, those Crawleys. I’ll miss their decorum and manners. I’ll pine for their beautiful language that can make even a little dig now and then (Dowager Dutchess? Anyone?) sound divine. Truly, I think I’ll miss it most because there is so very little of it in our own culture today.

For one hour a week, during 8 short weeks a year, I was reminded that, at one time, it was the absolute norm to present oneself in such a way to honor whomever might cross one’s path. It was commonplace – expected – to speak to others with respect, even if it wasn’t really felt.

Where, oh WHERE has that gone in our society? Why, now, do we feel we can say anything to anyone without regard for feelings or respect, or wear anything in public from our pajamas, to basically nothing at all? When did people like the Kardashians start being the stuff of celebrity, and Donald Trump seem like a suitable candidate for President?

When did we lose our best selves?

It’s a woeful farewell I bid to the Crawleys, and all the wonderful characters of Downton Abbey, but it’s the old US I wish we could bring back for syndicated reruns.

Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. ~ Luke 6:31 NASB