The Suitcase...

Recently my wife and I went shopping for a new suitcase for an upcoming trip, so she can carry more things.  Guess she's traveling more like me now...with any-and-every-thing she might need!   I was dressed in one of my usual mildly-feminine stirrup pants outfits, with turtleneck, black tights and flats, plus purse and women's sunglasses.  Not to mention my long hair and nails...

First stop was a place selling name-brand suitcases,  and we were welcomed as two ladies by the sales clerk (male.)  So I softened my voice a bit and let my wife do most of the talking.  We were there for over 20 minutes, and found something that would work, for which the price was right.   But we wanted to check some other places, to prove it was a good deal.   So we said we might be back...and he said "I hope so."   We were the first customers of the day, but didn't buy anything, which might be the reason for hoping we'd return.

After stopping at a couple of the impersonal big box stores (with abysmal choices - a poor selection), we decided to go back to the first place - their offering was clearly the best of the bunch, and on sale for the best price, too.  This time, he had a female assistant who was learning the job, and she listened in on our conversation with the clerk, during which time he faithfully addressed both of us as female.  The assistant remained quiet.

When the time came for him to train her on using the "cash register," she did need to address us, and we were "folks."  That didn't surprise me - she had that "a-ha!" look in her eyes...which leads me to believe that he was being "PC" with me, right up to the end, when we left with the new suitcase.   Right up to the final "stop in again, ladies!"  Not so much, from the less-personable assistant...

But either way is fine with me...they're better than hearing "Sir."  I didn't sense any bad karma from my wife about it at the time, either.  And she didn't pop off with anything about her "husband" when referring to me. That's always a good sign!

At lunch, my wife and I discussed our new purchase.   I told her that one of the little things which sold me on the suitcase we bought was the finger-hold on the bottom.  I pointed out how nice it is to have a place to grip when putting baggage into the trunk or on a shelf on the train.  The suitcases at the big box stores had nothing at all.

She laughingly said "I don't need to worry - someone always helps by doing that for me,  even when you're not there."  And I laughed as I joked back with "Maybe I should wear some blue contacts and a pretty dress - that way I could bat my baby blues and get help, too.  After all, we're both equally old.  You probably remember the many times guys have helped both of us 'old ladies' with our bags - and then held the door for us afterward.  So, maybe I don't need the dress after all!"   We both laughed again, but...I sensed a bit of "not quite so funny."    And that "sense" turned into a glare with my chuckling comment about "but the way the handle was designed, I might just break a nail."  The subject promptly got changed...and not by me.

I'll leave you with this picture from the archives:

This is from inside our house during Baltimore's blizzard of 2003...not many of us in the east have seen snow like this all winter...some of us, none at all.   But there may yet be snow in our future!

So, be safe...

Mandy