How I wish the utility companies would take a leaf out of her book. All this bullshine addressing me as Hello Robert in some faux friendly manner. I hate it.
Perhaps I’m among the few still routinely addressing others as “Sir” and “Ma’am.” And on a few occasions I’ve found myself considering if I might leave those ranks. It seems that some people take it as sarcasm.
So far I've only been asked this question regarding the neighborhood I grew up in, and currently live in; casual chat with neighbors while walking our dogs when they find out I've lived here (mostly) since 1961.
As I've aged I've slowly adopted the practice of replacing "Ma'am" with "Miss" when it seemed obvious that the lady was younger than I. Now I call them all "Miss" because the younger-than-I women seem to consider "Ma'am" as antiquated and an insult (i.e., that I think they're older than they really are), and the older women seem to like my use of the term that's regularly used for younger women. Ah, vanity.
Yuri Gagarin officially became the first human in space, and Alan Shepard became the first American in space the year I was born. Now, they're nothing more than names and accomplishments that most people don't recognize and couldn't care less about if they do.
I agree. It was a bit like being part of the most winning sports team in world history, but you're the guy who drives the bus and gets no credit. Still, I would like to have met Major General Collins just to ask him that one deceptively simple question: What was it like to be completely alone in that Command Module?
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