sweetness is out

been brought up to respect the elderly, the older generation. so much so that when i was a wee one, an english gentleman kissed my hand in greeting and all i could fumble out by way of reply was a lame 'thank you'. thank you for kissing my hand? pathetic i know, but i didn't know the social do's and don't back then. actually, can't say i do now either, because who gets greeted in this manner nowadays anyway.

so, manners was something that have been instilled in me. if you can hear me when i make a phonecall, you'll understand why, with the sacharrin sweetest voice dripping with syrup, enough to send a diabetic into an insulin induced coma. lately i've come to realise that it's not quite working its desired effect into gearing the other party to swift efficient action. perhaps it's old age turning my once honey sweetness voice into grudge hoarse grunts. i've since realised that a i'm-so-bored-cos-i'm-so-important-and-can't-wait-around-for-you voice works a million times better than any please and thank you. the logic is if you sound all sweetness, the person at the other end of the line will figure you for a teenager and won't be in such a hurry to please you and lick your feet. however, if you fake an all important datin voice, with the requisite accent and imaginative grandeur, you'll have people falling at your feet to get things done just incase they are vexing a potential vip.

life's pretty topsy turvy when it comes to such logic. how do you teach your kids to behave and show good manners when the exact opposite get things done? life is such a hypocrite. meanwhile, i'll have to work on my hoarse brush-off tone.