Hon

I can't remember if I mentioned this before and if I have well too bad read it anyway all three of you!I don't know if I can call what I am writing about ageism or sexism or a nasty combo platter-"sageism"-I wish!
People have taken to calling me dear. Which sounds inoffensive enough.In England everyone is called pet or love or darling no matter how old or which gender you are though men are more likely to be called "Gov." Kiddiewinks often have a sweetie handed over with the endearment. That's how you know you are big. Little old ladies still call you pet but don't part with their toffees. One is big enough to get ones own.
Here in the New World, only old trouts like me are called "dear." It makes me bristle as I cannot imagine my husband being called "dear" and he is older than I am. Hence the sexism.
I took action last week. I was in the bank renegotiating investments such as they are. I thought I heard the word dear float across the desk from the lips of the young man with whom I was dealing. It happened again and I told him not to call me that. He had the grace to look chastised and I was Mrs. Davison for the rest of the session. I hope he remembers this for other older women.Life is difficult enough without having to be patronised by young men.Unless one has a whiskey voice and calls us "hon."People with whiskey voices tend to call everyone "hon" and it's just like being back in England where we are all: old, young, male , female the botched and the bungled, "pet."