Yes ma'am!

Do you remember the first time someone called you ma'am?  I think I was about 30 or 32 when the sacker at the grocery store called me ma'am.  I about died.  I was sure I was over-the-hill and my youth was just a faint memory of the past.

Ron's daughter called recently to report she had just been called ma'am for the first time.  She was having about the same reaction that I had.  We teased her a little and welcomed her into the over-the-hill club.  I told Ron after we hung up that I have passed the ma'am stage and have entered the sweet little old lady phase.  Now I'm called "sweetie" or "darlin" or other sweet old lady terms of endearment.  Young people hold doors open for me and act like they want to carry my parcels.  Frankly, I LOVE it!  So far I haven't felt the least bit offended.