Don't you hate labels? And the stereotypes that they bring with them?
I was filling out a form yesterday, handed it to the woman in charge, who looked it over to make sure I had done everything correctly. I saw her do a double-take, then she looked up at me with a "shocked" expression
And said (quite loudly) "You're a widow??" I just nodded, hoping she would move on with the process so that we could quit putting on a show for my peers. Oh, no! It would be that easy! She then darts her eyes back up to the top of the page, counts on her fingers, and says "You're only 21 years old!!" Yes, yes I am. She continues to evaluate the paperwork and take the next couple of steps, mumbling "A widow at 21...well I'll be..."
I was terrified that she was going to sit there and ask me to talk about it! I wouldn't have, obviously, but my word, could she have handled that just a tad more delicately? My marriage status has nothing to do with the reason for the paperwork.
Bleh. I'm just venting to you guys...thank you for letting me rant! Why is it that as soon as we're labled "Widow/Widower", it's as if we're seen through different eyes. We're no longer a person. We're a being that had a husband or wife die. They look at us as if they're afraid our "baggage" is infectious and will quickly pass to them. Sheesh.
Okay. Thank you. =) You may now return to your regularly scheduled posting.
I was filling out a form yesterday, handed it to the woman in charge, who looked it over to make sure I had done everything correctly. I saw her do a double-take, then she looked up at me with a "shocked" expression
And said (quite loudly) "You're a widow??" I just nodded, hoping she would move on with the process so that we could quit putting on a show for my peers. Oh, no! It would be that easy! She then darts her eyes back up to the top of the page, counts on her fingers, and says "You're only 21 years old!!" Yes, yes I am. She continues to evaluate the paperwork and take the next couple of steps, mumbling "A widow at 21...well I'll be..." I was terrified that she was going to sit there and ask me to talk about it! I wouldn't have, obviously, but my word, could she have handled that just a tad more delicately? My marriage status has nothing to do with the reason for the paperwork.
Bleh. I'm just venting to you guys...thank you for letting me rant! Why is it that as soon as we're labled "Widow/Widower", it's as if we're seen through different eyes. We're no longer a person. We're a being that had a husband or wife die. They look at us as if they're afraid our "baggage" is infectious and will quickly pass to them. Sheesh.
Okay. Thank you. =) You may now return to your regularly scheduled posting.
