Recently, I’ve been hearing myself call everyone “hun, honey, dear, sister and sweetie.” A definite sign, an old lady sign. Silly I know, but I’m happy to have arrived at a place that feels quite right at home. Well-earned, it’s really more than just confidence that comes with maturity but an easy, ability of openness in actually sharing my old lady self with other human beings quite unlike ever before, and kick to the curb so-to-speak the younger, fearful, self-critical me. It’s nice. Not without exception, I don’t address women older than me with the above endearments, it feels tacky and disrespectful. A few years ago, a young girl in her early 20′s that worked for me was calling our gently-older customers “dear, hun and sweetie,” – I nipped that in the bud, early. I felt she hadn’t reached an age nor earned the graceful right to speak to elderly women with such tone, therefore, I take my own advice and try never, ever to cross that line. So, if I call you “sister, hon or dear,” please take compliment that I assume you’re younger than me.
Moreover, I’ve advanced to an “old lady” place where I feel noticeably more than comfortable speaking my mind, unabashed. Not that I haven’t always been able to engage conversation with most anyone in line for coffee, grocery store, waiting room, or embarrass my children in public – but to finally hear my oldest daughter whisper to her sister, “did you hear what mom just said?” well, that just left me smirking having trumped yet another moment in their life. It’s sort of living on the edge of I’m not quite sure of what yet, but before my children group share silent worries of my impending senility, I’m enjoying all the good things that come greeting this milestone. So, stop by for coffee dearie, and we’ll talk.
February 21st, 2011 at 1:47 PM
Hehehe. =) Nice post!