Vic The Country Gentleman

This Christmas I had the pleasure of going to see my wife’s grandparents. And getting the chance to sit and talk to a real country gentleman.

Vic grew up during World War 2 and the hardships and struggles of the time help to shape his sense of honor, fairness, loyalty and honestly.

Vic is not only gentleman but a man’s man. He liked a drink and a dirty joke as much as the next man but only in the company of other men. No swearing, dirty jokes or loutish behavior in front of a woman. Ever.

Vic, Graeme (my father in law) and I were out the back smoking and drinking, well Graeme and I were drinking and smoking, and telling our jokes and stories, whispering our dirtiest jokes, including my favorite about the musical octopus, so the women would not overhear and be offended.

That was the main factor that I found most fascinating about him. It didn’t matter what we were doing or talking about, the man always had a sense of nobility and honor that isn’t even a shadow of what passes for honor today.

Vic was always a hard working man, worked hard and played hard too. He maintained a no bullshit attitude; he offered none and accepted none. During our few conversations he always spoke slowly and in measured way. The slow speech was not an indication or old age or stupidity, it was an indication of Vic taking his time to think about the words he wanted to say and to make sure his message was clear.

That was the real pleasure of sitting and talking to such a true, no nonsense gentleman. There is no pretence, no false modesty, no trying to impress me or give a false impression of himself or his impressions of me. You could talk about anything from cars to hooking up a water tank in the back yard and he made you pay real attention. Not thru bullshit or intimidation but thru his delivery and honest speech.

It is incredibly sad that the Country Gentleman is a dying breed of man. Now a days the words honesty, fidelity, honor, nobility and a way to behave in front of young people, older people and women have had their meanings crippled.

Due to our excess that has filled our cultural vacuum; things like trashy celebrity magazines, the stunning decline of actual journalism, reality TV and novelty ring tones, the image of what makes a real man or indeed real woman (but that’s a WHOLE ‘nother story) has been so distorted that it is completely unrecognizable.

Now the best you can look forward to is being ignored when you walk down the street. The complete opposite of the glory that once was and is now called “the old days” where people would say hello and mean it.

So raise your glasses to Vic and all his kin. There are not many like him left.