Growing up and living at home, I noticed that every time I offered my mother a piece of gum, she declined. I couldn’t understand how someone could reject something so great as to supply a nice taste in one’s mouth for as long a period of time as it was there. Food disintegrates in one’s mouth and the taste only lasts until it’s swallowed. Gum lasts and so does the taste (unless you swallow it,) so the taste just keeps on giving!
When I asked her why she didn’t like gum, she’d say, “I don’t dislike it, I just don’t like the way people look when they chew it.”
It hasn’t been until more recent years that I’ve noticed how badly people look when they chew gum; their jaw constantly moving up and down. It looks awful and it’s non-stop. Whether it’s one person or a group of them, it looks gross and there’s no one that can chew it gracefully and still look good.
Looking around a room of a large group of people, such as in a church service or any audience, probably what you will see in about half the people is chaw, chaw, chaw. It’s not at all a pretty sight.
In a work situation I was once in, every time I looked up at a person in front of me whose profile faced me, all I saw was a rapidly moving jaw going up and down fast and furiously like a hamster on a wheel with no particular purpose. She was the receptionist and the one who came directly in contact with customers. She was a classy lady in every other respect. My mother’s words came back to my mind and all of a sudden, they made much more sense and I understand them. With that constant mouth movement, it seemed to strip her of any dignity and I’m sure she hadn’t a clue. I feel strongly though, that it’s not because of Mom’s words that I came to that conclusion. It’s because I arrived at that same perspective with the sight it creates and then realize that Mom’s words coincide.
Even worse are those who make noise with their gum by cracking and smacking it and chewing with their mouth open. I’ve moved away from people in store aisles and keep moving farther away until I can no longer hear it, (sometimes one aisle over isn’t enough,) because to me it’s so unbearable and intolerable, as well as inconsiderate.
I still don’t dislike gum and once-in-a-while, I might chew a piece in the privacy of my own home if no one else is around to see how horrible it looks, because I realize, as my mother’s words come back to me: “I don’t dislike it, I just dislike the way people look when they chew it.”
I venture to say that if you notice how people look when they chew gum, whether it’s one person or a sea of them in an audience, my mother’s words may come to you too. Next time you’re in an audience, check it out.
