I've recently made a new observation: Elderly people can get away with saying things that make younger individuals into creepers.
For example, today I was shopping for vegetables for the salads I made for dinner tonight. When I got into the check-out line the elderly gentleman ahead of me (who by the way was accompanied by two older women) asked if I wanted any meat today. When I replied "No thanks," he looked at the contents of my cart and asked if I was planning on having a big salad tonight for dinner. When I affirmed his query he said, "Mm. Delicious." I smiled politely as I moved to an adjacent line and proceeded to check-out. But as I exited the store I passed by him again on the way to my car. As I crossed the parking lot, the man told me to "Be safe now as you drive home." I said thanks again and left.
This encounter was a bit strange, but I mostly just took it as a sweet encounter with an extroverted elderly gentleman. I didn't feel any sort of weird intensity so much as friendliness from a stranger. I suspect that his concern for my safety was related to the weather, as it had been raining on and off and was incredibly overcast all afternoon. But I was thinking later on that day that if this man had been, say, mid-forties, as opposed to about sixty I am guessing....
If he were in his mid-forties and had a mustache and yellowed teeth and looked intently into my eyes as he expressed his delight in salads, I have a feeling I would have found him more disturbing than cute.
Anybody feel me?
And this has certainly not been the only encounter of this sort that I've experienced. Last summer I visited the local Walk-In clinic in town because I suffered sinus issues. When I sat down next to an elderly woman in the waiting room to fill out necessary paperwork, she turned to me and said, "You're too pretty to be sick."
At the time the statement just made me smile and was stored away mentally as one of the best compliments I'd received to date. But what if this woman had not been elderly? What if she were in, say, her early thirties? I would have suspected her of making some sort of pass at me at the Walk-In clinic. Classy. Opportune moment, let me tell you.
Or, how about this situation? I moved to a new city last August and was consequently searching for a new church. Upon arriving at a particular church one Sunday morning, I was greeted by another elderly woman who gave me a name tag and, upon discovering that I was a first time visitor, began voluntarily offering me information about the church and the pastors and such. Well, she randomly decided to state, "There are a lot of cute boys who go here."
Now if this woman had been in her early 20s, I would have immediately labeled her as a slut. Of course, I would have concealed this thought, since I was in church, but really now. If she had been younger, married or in some sort of relationship or not, I would have come to very different conclusions about her. But because she was elderly, I decided to regard her as one of my grandparents. They say cutely awkward things because they are not so self-conscious as people my age.
I personally think it's pretty refreshing to receive compliments and advice from the elderly.
Quotes of the Day:
Chip: You respect me now, I'm your Grandfather!
Texas Rancher: Chip, I'ma come at you like a spider monkey!!
Texas Ranger: I tell you what, Granny, this blows.
Walker: How much more of this?
Granny: I dunno. How many more times you gonna toss me a radio in the bathtub?
-Talladega Nights
