Hilda's Homily
By
Hilda Maston
The May 15th service was done by our
young people and youth education coordinator, Debe
Nelson. What a good job they did! What I will remember
most about that service was the feeling that it was a
big family reunion. With fathers, mothers, brothers,
sisters, and grandparents all there to witness the young
people as they joined into the life of the church. The
kids did their part, with the adults helping and the
rest of us just enjoyed. I was happy to be exposed to
all the strength and optimism of the young people, with
all their energy and joy of life. The hymn we sang,
"Part of the Family," said it all.
Friendly or Familiar?
I worked hard to earn my title (Mrs.) and
now, in my twilight years, never get to hear it, never
have the satisfaction of being addressed as a grown-up
person.
The whole society has stopped using
titles of address! The kids call their teachers by
their first names. (Can you imagine what would have
happened to
us had we tried
that?) The minister is no longer Reverend, but Bob or
Sally or Joe. The doctor who worked long and hard to
gain that title gets called by his first name or the
overly friendly "Doc." It happens often. I am just one
person, but I can see what this is doing to
my
dignity. Here is what happened in just one day.
At nine A.M. I am on my way to the
grocery store. So far, so good. The checker doesn't
know my first name so I get "mam'ed." That's okay with
me.
Next stop the Post Office. The clerk
glances at the return address on the package and says,
"Here is your change, Hilda, have a nice day." This is
from a young man who doesn't know me from Adam (or Eve
for that matter.)
Off to the bank. "Would you cash this
check, I'll need a ten and two fives." "Of course,
Hilda, here you are." I had been to the bank only a few
times and didn't know that teller, but she called me by
my first name!
Next stop the doctor's office where the
nurse said, "Step up on the scales, Hilda." Again, I
have seen the nurse once or twice, but didn't dream we
were on a first-name basis.
By the time I got to the pharmacy, I was
ready to quit. The pharmacist joined the rest of the
world by asking if "Hilda" had any questions. See what
I mean?
Even a person as elevated as a judge gets
called by her first name. You've heard of "Judge Judy,"
haven't you?
Now don't get me wrong, I'm as friendly
as the next old lady, but there is friendly, and there
is familiar, and familiar means I get no respect.
Don't you agree? Mary, Joan, Tom,
Bob, and George?
