Cyn has found it offensive to refer to the female partner on a relationship as “the wife of....”. I am in complete agreement with her thoughts on this. It reminds me of calls that used to arrive at my domicile, when the former wife of C Willson would answer the phone. “How yas doin Missus, is the boss there”, was often the voice on the other end.
This was usually followed by taking the phone receiver, smacking it against the wall twice, and then responding with, “yer talking to her, Buckwheat!” This was often followed by a dry chuckle on the other end, and something like “Eh, Missus, you must be one of them equal rights gals.” Followed by herself responding, “why the hell would I want to be equal to a man?”
(sigh), she was a beautiful, intelligent and articulate woman. She was also a redhead.
27 Nov 2004 at 07:18 pm | #
This reminds me of when we first took over our business in 1985. Traditionally, a male dominiated business, I obliged the farmers when they requested to speak to a “man” for fear of losing their business. After about six months of this horses**t I answered the phone one day and the farmer requested to speak with Dave or any other man. I told him there was no man present and if he wanted to know anything it was “talk to me or hang up.” After a slight pause, he asked...."what are your hours of operation?” Stunned arse. As with all things on PEI, word soon got out that I was no longer going to play the part a “non-person”, and eventually I did have the respect of all the men we did business with but it did not come easy. “Non-person”...Hmmm...bet that is where Nancy Key got that description of me.
16 Nov 2005 at 05:53 pm | #
I can remember the fishermen pulling into the driveway and asking is the boss home?, I knew my mother well and would always answer which one? I remember telling you that Dad and you responded, “ Good for you Mark.”