Yes, Ma'am

The Pacific Northwest is a casual sort of place where everyone is on a first name basis with everyone else. Dentists are the rare exception to that rule. They persist in referring to themselves as doctor. We all wear corduroy slacks while traveling, and yes, it is true that in the winter we wear socks in our sandals. A man in a neck tie is either selling life insurance or on his way to receive his AA coin. Dresses are usually Halloween costumes, but occasionally proms or funerals bring out a few swishy skirts. Umbrellas identify tourists or newcomers who believe that they can blend in with the natives just because they are wearing natural fibers.
So I guess I don't have to explain the stir created by the dozens of uniformed young men from the Annapolis Glee Club arrived in Seattle to play at a Sea hawks game. They not only traveled in their mid-shipman uniforms, but their shoes were black, shiny and had heels and toes instead of straps! We all tried to think of excuses to talk to them, like to ask them where they were from and what were they here for. It was more exciting than eagles flocking to the Skagit in January.
I spotted them early on, so I had a great excuse to talk to them while they were waiting to check into their hotel rooms. And guess what- they called me 'ma'am!' Oh, I'm plenty old enough to be called ma'am, but it almost never happens. More often middle aged waitresses call me sweetie.
So I've been quite pleased with myself ever since, but I still prefer to be on a first name basis with waiters, bus drivers and my doctor. The 'sweetie' waitresses can stop it.
Nancy Sherer