Honey Sweetie

  Now that i'm "a certain age," walking with a cane, suddenly everyone seems to want to call me "honey" or "sweetie."
  It's hard to not resent this.
  Those are terms of AFFECTION, for friends & family whom you love.
  These people calling me this are strangers, usually in a service position.
  You think i'm a sweet little old lady?  Maybe someday.  Just because i don't want to bother with hair color and have bad knees doesn't mean you can take liberties with me.
  When i was a sexy young thing, men i didn't know would do this.  That was kinda creepy, though they seemed respectful enough in other ways.  i hope this doesn't happen so much in today's climate.
  Maybe it's a way of trying to be friendly to someone perceived as weaker.  Max gets this a lot too, and it makes him hopping mad.
  So if you want to address a stranger this way, JUST DON'T.