As I took off my jacket and handed it to the small, delicate, very blonde and very young assistant, she said, "That's it sweetie..." as she helped me on with my black voluminous gown in preparation for a cut and blow-dry! And with her delicate, butterfly touch on my elbow, she guided me to the chair. I suppose that to her, I was ancient and needed treating delicately. She handed me a couple of 'OK' and 'Hello' magazines, and as soon as she'd gone off to aide another ancient over-40 woman, I got up and exchanged them for 'Country Living' and 'Prima'... proof that I was indeed ancient!Then conversely, yesterday while walking around the Cotswold Wildlife Park with my two young grandsons, and asking for two ice-cream cones, I was addressed as 'Mum' by the young man serving. I am now suffering from a sort of identity crisis... what am I? Ancient grandmother or mother of two young boys? What's age got to do with anything? And, why are some people ill at ease with the different ages? Or, do they just not know that everyone, regardless of age, etc., etc., should be treated with equal respect? I don't much like being called 'Sweetie, darlin', love, m'duck or anything else by people I don't know. However, some might say that I have indeed reached the 'Grumpy Old Woman' stage! All this is proof I need a life!
5 comments:
Hi Jenny,
I'm a bit confused by the picture?
Why does the jpeg refer to "Glen and Mark". I am sure they were not part of the "Wildlife", although some I bet some grandchildren can be.
I feel that a lot of people today go on training courses, that teach them only the basics. They are shown what to do, they are told what to say and heaven help them if they don't stick to it.
They just cannot or are not allowed to be themselves.
In supermarkets where you shop regularly, you will get 'exactly' the same spiel every week from any checkout operator...word perfect.
"Would you like any help with the packing?". I am tempted to say " Do I look as if I need any help with packing?" But perhaps best not to ..they can't help it.
Cheers....Bernard
No. Not ancient Jenny. Getting rid of OK and Hello magazines shows you have taste. Oh how i DESPISE those magazines!!! Take being addressed as 'mum' by the young ice cream man as a compliment ;o)
Many thanks Richard... it's just that I'm a bit touchy at the moment and like KD says, they (young assistants) can't help it! It's their youth, inexperience and no doubt the training they've been given! As for my lovely boys... they have demonstrated today that they can be as wild as the wildlife we saw! Only two more days to go!
I'm with Richard - grab any compliment when it's going, even if you're not sure it is a compliment...
"OK" and "Hello" magazines = `social death`, its just that those who read them avidly don't realise it yet. (although I suspect the editors know this very well).
As for being called Mum, I think I'd instantly reply `Thank you Sonny Jim`. But at least he never called you `Grandma` :-/
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