Christy_M
07-10-2011, 01:11 AM
Today was the first full day in my new house. I was waiting around for the home alram appointment, the furniture delivery and the best buy appliance delivery. I also had a number of home projects to keep me busy so I inviited my gal pal, Jennifer to help me out.
9:00 AM, Home alarm people show up...
Her: "Hi, I am looking for Chris..."
Me: "Hi, (extended hand for shake) Christy,..."
Her: "No, Pam, Is Chris here?"
Me: "Yes, I am Christy"
Her: Uh...Oh, OK, Let me see what I can do to help you with your home security."
Great discussion and she got the sale. Very pleasant and cordial and just generally polite and respectful...
Next, run into a neighbor with his dog "Guiness." Got a great "welcome to the neighborhood" and casual conversation for about 20 minutes while his dog wondered around me trying to get pet. No pitchforks or torches...
Next, run into another neighbor...wife of man across the street..."hey, how are you, welcome to the neighborhood. It's great to meet you. We have periodic cul-de-sac parties and would love to have you join..."
Next, go to lunch with Jennifer at a local teriyaki place. great food and great service and no problems.
Next, run into wife of neighbor with Guiness..."welcome to the neighborhood. it is great to meet you. Are you the one moving in? ...by yourself? We have periodic cul-de-sac parties and would love to have you join us..." "we also have annual cookie exchange around Christmas..." me: "I don't do cookies too much but would love to participate." Her: "Well you could come over and help me with mine and that should be OK..."
Next, finally, the furniture people show up 4 1/2 hours late... "Hi ma'am, sorry for being late...we'll try and get done as quick as we can..."
These three gentlemen "ma'am'd" me and "lady'd" and used the right pronouns with each other the whole 3 hours they were around me setting up my furniture. OMG I felt like I was in a different world...I even have one of them that wants to come back adn do some other work around the house for me...OMG this is just incredible.
Next, Dinner with my gal pal Jenn, "Are you ladies ready to order?" omg... We had a great dinner at Red Robin and got a lot of "You Ladies" and Ma'am" and everything else respectrful for presenting as myself.
Finally, Best Buy shows up two hours late... after such a great day in my house, it would be hard to ruin it...
"Sir, we need to take off some molding" Hmmmm, maybe an oversight, Jenn says we shouldn't sign "her" invoice at the end. I say that the obvious boobs must have been the first indicati0on of "man" so clearly that is why he said "Sir." All of this well within earshot of the guy making the "Sir" comment...
After the molding is removed and the fridge is installed he says again, "Sir, I need a signature..."
Me: "I don't care what you think about me or how I look but don't call me "sir."
Him: "OK" gets signature and races out to the truck and drives off...
After such a great day with people accepting me into the neighborhood and getting the services froem companies as Christy, there is nothing that can tear me down. Even the Best Buy guy didn't make me feel bad. I will certainly report him and get some form of sensitivity training initiated but I am well on my way to being accepted for who I am in my new neighborhood.
Finally, run into another neighbor who exclaims that she is jealous that I am getting new appliances and she has to live with her crappy old stuff for a while longer. Me: "Best Buy is having a great sale on applicnces and I got the whole lot for around $3K..." Her: "I am just kidding, we just had some new stuff put in last year. Welcome to the neighborhood. I look forward to seieng you at the cul-de-sac parties comeing up..."
OMG what a great day. I felt so good getting the acceptance from neighbors and service people. I also feel good knowing that when the time comes, I will stand up for myself. This is my home and noone will disrespect me in it without confrontation...
What a great day...
9:00 AM, Home alarm people show up...
Her: "Hi, I am looking for Chris..."
Me: "Hi, (extended hand for shake) Christy,..."
Her: "No, Pam, Is Chris here?"
Me: "Yes, I am Christy"
Her: Uh...Oh, OK, Let me see what I can do to help you with your home security."
Great discussion and she got the sale. Very pleasant and cordial and just generally polite and respectful...
Next, run into a neighbor with his dog "Guiness." Got a great "welcome to the neighborhood" and casual conversation for about 20 minutes while his dog wondered around me trying to get pet. No pitchforks or torches...
Next, run into another neighbor...wife of man across the street..."hey, how are you, welcome to the neighborhood. It's great to meet you. We have periodic cul-de-sac parties and would love to have you join..."
Next, go to lunch with Jennifer at a local teriyaki place. great food and great service and no problems.
Next, run into wife of neighbor with Guiness..."welcome to the neighborhood. it is great to meet you. Are you the one moving in? ...by yourself? We have periodic cul-de-sac parties and would love to have you join us..." "we also have annual cookie exchange around Christmas..." me: "I don't do cookies too much but would love to participate." Her: "Well you could come over and help me with mine and that should be OK..."
Next, finally, the furniture people show up 4 1/2 hours late... "Hi ma'am, sorry for being late...we'll try and get done as quick as we can..."
These three gentlemen "ma'am'd" me and "lady'd" and used the right pronouns with each other the whole 3 hours they were around me setting up my furniture. OMG I felt like I was in a different world...I even have one of them that wants to come back adn do some other work around the house for me...OMG this is just incredible.
Next, Dinner with my gal pal Jenn, "Are you ladies ready to order?" omg... We had a great dinner at Red Robin and got a lot of "You Ladies" and Ma'am" and everything else respectrful for presenting as myself.
Finally, Best Buy shows up two hours late... after such a great day in my house, it would be hard to ruin it...
"Sir, we need to take off some molding" Hmmmm, maybe an oversight, Jenn says we shouldn't sign "her" invoice at the end. I say that the obvious boobs must have been the first indicati0on of "man" so clearly that is why he said "Sir." All of this well within earshot of the guy making the "Sir" comment...
After the molding is removed and the fridge is installed he says again, "Sir, I need a signature..."
Me: "I don't care what you think about me or how I look but don't call me "sir."
Him: "OK" gets signature and races out to the truck and drives off...
After such a great day with people accepting me into the neighborhood and getting the services froem companies as Christy, there is nothing that can tear me down. Even the Best Buy guy didn't make me feel bad. I will certainly report him and get some form of sensitivity training initiated but I am well on my way to being accepted for who I am in my new neighborhood.
Finally, run into another neighbor who exclaims that she is jealous that I am getting new appliances and she has to live with her crappy old stuff for a while longer. Me: "Best Buy is having a great sale on applicnces and I got the whole lot for around $3K..." Her: "I am just kidding, we just had some new stuff put in last year. Welcome to the neighborhood. I look forward to seieng you at the cul-de-sac parties comeing up..."
OMG what a great day. I felt so good getting the acceptance from neighbors and service people. I also feel good knowing that when the time comes, I will stand up for myself. This is my home and noone will disrespect me in it without confrontation...
What a great day...