Every morning, I go to the gas station and get a big ol' Diet Pepsi.

Today, that routine action was made a bit more pleasant by someone I'd never met before and will likely never see again.

A young man ... I'd say he was somewhere in the 18-20 age range ... held the door open for me as I walked into the station. He had shaggy hair. He was wearing a baseball cap, a Senor Frog's t-shirt and baggy khaki shorts. He smiled at me as he held the door, and I thanked him and smiled back.

I got to thinking as I filled my styrofoam cup, paid and headed off to work about how surprised I was at this young man's show of manners ... and how sad it was that I WAS surprised.

It reminded me of a time a few years back when my mother and I were waiting for a table at a restaurant inside a mall. We were sitting in the restaurant's waiting area, which was packed with holiday shoppers. A group got called, and one seat on a bench opened up near us. I offered it to my mother instead of taking it myself.

My mother sat down next to an older woman, who commented on what a "nice girl" I was, and congratulated my mother for raising such a polite child.

I was floored by this. What else was I going to do? I mean seriously, like I was going to leave my mother standing and sit down.

I was raised to say please, thank-you, yes ma'am and no ma'am. I was taught to be polite and pleasant. Those traits have stayed with me. I'm nearly 39 years old, and sometimes it's still difficult for me to bring myself to call people who are significantly older than I am by their first names.

When I was young and would attend sleepovers, my mother would remind me as she was dropping me off that I was to behave myself, as I was a representation of our entire family. When she picked me up the next day, the first thing she would ask me is if I thanked my friend's parents and if I had remembered my manners.

I've tried to pass good etiquette on to my kids. When my son asks for something and forgets to say "please," my standard reminder is, "Is that how we ask for things?" I insist that my kids write thank-you notes for gifts. It exasperates my 18-year-old, but she does it, and I think she will continue to do it as an adult.

As much as things change, I don't ever think good manners will be antiquated or go out of style. It just makes me sad that when a young person exhibits good manners, I am somewhat surprised by it.

So to the young man who held the door for me this morning, thank you. You made my day just by showing me some common courtesy.

And tell your parents congratulations on a job well done.