Just a couple of golden girls

Friday, 9:46 pm

By Kate

Jan

02

2009

This evening, one of my friends and I went out to dinner to catch up on events. We chose our favorite stomping ground...it’s a little restaurant in the woods that caters a lot to the older crowd. She and I were among the youngest in the place. And we had a new waitress. Have never seen her before. She was probably about our age.

During the course of the meal, she gave us plenty of attention and service and was, in almost all respects, perfect. Except for one little thing that made me grind my teeth. She kept calling us “girls” and “kids” which annoyed the heck out of me. Perhaps the older clientele get a kick out of it. Or not. I’m pretty sure that in 20 years time, I still won’t like being addressed that way. It felt condescending. And if it annoyed me that much, which it did, I probably should have gently said something about it. I think. I haven’t run up against that very often and I’m not really sure what I should have said or could have said without making her feel awful, too. I suppose somewhere along the line, someone will take her to task far less kindly than anything I would have said.

At one point, I must have looked as if I was going to blow my stack. My friend reached across the table and grabbed my wrist and said, “Take a deep breath. Calmmmmm. Don’t erupt, please.” I must be somewhat transparent. I didn’t erupt, though.

Just a small irritation in the scheme of things, but I do wonder what prompts some people to speak to others that way. I’ve encountered plenty of waitresses who call me “honey” or “dear” and that doesn’t bother me a bit. It’s in the way they say it and in their attitude—no condescension at all, just their way of speaking. I can live with that. Our waitress tonight came across as extremely condescending and I did not like it.