Passing glances: On niceties of language, on courage

When I arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport on my first visit to France, I had a question, and after finding an airport worker, I blurted it out directly, with no preliminaries. She tactfully informed me that when you address someone in France, common courtesy calls for you to begin with “Bonjour!” or something of the kind. Writing isn’t the same as talking, nor am I in France (though you may be). Still, it’s a nice idea. So…

Good morning! (It’s morning where I am—that is, when I am.) Or good...