I know I’ve had a million conversations with various friends about this topic, but I’ll repeat myself again. Everyone could learn a little something from watching Kate and Leopold. Ok, ok. So I just lost every last shred of street cred that I might have carried. But no matter. I’m spreading the word, and it’s a public good. So I’ll go ahead and take one for the team.

Firstly, what I’m not saying. I’m definitely not saying that you can go around acting super angry and angsty and just generally mean, and still end up with a charming, handsome man of aristocratic background. (Even though I secretly hold a soft spot in my heart for Meg Ryan, I’m not really sure why this random guy would fall in love with her upon first sight, especially since none of her first words with him were terribly kind. But this is the movies, we’ll let that one slide. PS: If this point bothers you, Bridget Jones is not for you.) I’m also not saying that you necessarily need to be that knight in shining armor, riding on a white horse in order to win a woman’s heart. Although every time I’m in Central Park and smell the lovely aroma of the horses, I think of that.

But you know what really wins you points, but so many people have forgotten? Little courtesies. Being gentlemanly and ladylike. At the risk of sounding completely Victorian, I will admit that Olga and I had a conversation about how nice it was to be walked home. Now, I personally have not had the pleasure of such occurrences often. Or perhaps, just not often enough. But when they did occur, I really felt… taken care of. You know, that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you sense that someone doesn’t necessarily want you to die on your way home? I kind of like it. And when it happens, I don’t forget. Not to mention that it leaves a good final impression, the peak-end rule, etc.

Now, I was going to write something about how women need to remember to be ladies: gracious, kind, all that jazz. But then I realized that Kate and Leopold does a horrible job of setting the example on this one because Meg Ryan’s character is none of the above. Hmmm… I’ll have to think of a better movie for that one. I guess I’d better work on that.

To Be Continued…