I got m'am-ed

Tonight at the supermarket, it happened. I knew that someday it would happen to me, but I've got to admit, I didn't think it would be this early in my life.

I got m'am-ed.

After I had meticulously loaded my groceries on to the belt (which is another subject for another blog) I told the cashier that my club card thingy didn't scan but I could give her the number. Not only did she call me "M'am," but she said it in a tsk-ing voice, which especially annoyed me since she was half my age, had bangs hanging in her eyes and talked more to the bagger at the next checkout than to me. But I digress. I couldn't believe my ears - someone was calling me m'am in a completely legitimate way. I use this term at work a lot, more out of politeness on the phone than in deference to age, but I think I will cease and desist all m'am-ing operations after the way it made me feel. OLD!! I asked her not to call me that again.

For the most part, I know you're as young as you feel, and I definitely don't feel 26. As Mark Twain wrote, "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."

Just be on the lookout. It happened to me; it could happen to you.