Boss

Walmart, Target, Total Wine, more and more, C and I, we place orders online for groceries and such. We go to the store and people bring out our stuff and they deposit the stuff we purchased in the back of our vehicle. 

We are in. We are out. Quick and easy and away we go.

And something here, vs there. El Paso vs Sarasota, the people who walk out of the store with the stuff we bought. The people who deliver our stuff, store to car, these people in El Paso, they are young(er) people. 

In Sarasota, people my age, not young people (I am no longer young), people my age in Sarasota were bringing me our stuff. People my age (in Sarasota) were delivering stuff, store to car.

And yes, I am judging here. I am thinking that if people my age are delivering stuff, store to car, if they’re doing it because they WANT TO do it. If they’re doing this work because - they are bored. If they are doing such work, because they want to do it. Well great. But too often, my guess is (in Sarasota) that they NEED TO do it. They need such work.

And I do not know if here in El Paso, people my age need this kind of work too. No doubt, there are some (my age) who need such work. But what I see here, is young people, doing (what I would call) Starter Jobs. And I like it. 

I like to see young people doing (what I would consider to be) young people work. First jobs. Something to start out. Build a work history. Show your stuff.

I like it here, seeing young people, doing - young people work.

^^^^^

And here’s a thing. Another thing, new - to me.

When said young person, brings me - my stuff. At the end of our exchanges / transaction, I have often (here) been left (here) with a - “Thank you Boss”, or a “There you go Boss”.

“Boss” - a title. Titles, like - Sir - Mr - Chief.

I’ve been called “Sir”, “Mr” and “Chief”, and here is the thing.

I have - never - considered myself to be - any of those things. 

I may be older than someone, and hence, I get (kind of get) “Sir”. 

I am a man, a male, a male of our species, so I can see “Mr”. No matter how I identify (today), I can see “Mr”. Even if it is not (for me) comfortable… “Mr” is a shoe that fits. “Mr”

“Chief”, “Chief” - - - well just NO. Chief is a no. No go.

There was a comedy skit I heard somewhere, sometime. I wish I could find it (again). You call me “Chief” - and boy, howdy, IT IS ON. 

You call me “Chief”. I call you “Cowboy”. 

You call me “Chief”. I call you “General”. 

I am not, have never been, will likely - never be, an Indian Chief, a Chief of Police, a Commander in Chief, or (sadly) a Chief Executive. 

There is no Chief here (in my body, standing on my two legs, not in my skin). 

Scott - no Chief.

I was not brought up in a business culture (my place, my time, the northeastern United States, 1960s, 1970s) that used titles very much when addressing strangers, even if they were Customers.

Normally, at the end of a business transaction, (where / when I grew up and came from) a simple smile and a “Thank You” would do.

Everything else - Sir, Mr, Chief, to me, and to my way of thinking, it always felt kind of wrong… pejorative. 

,,,,,

And I have asked before, and been told, that in the South (where I did not grow up) - “Sir” is a title frequently used as a sign - of respect.

And reluctantly, and not always (tone of voice is huge, it matters), I have come to accept a “Sir” now and again. 

It never feels (quite) right (to me). And sometimes (tone of voice), I know it’s not right. 

Surly tones, don’t make for good “Sirs”, “Thank You (surly tone) Sir”. 

Yeah, NO. No thanks Chief. Keep your Sir. Take your Sir and shove it.

And so here, new place, new title - “Boss”

“Thanks Boss”, “Thank You Boss”.

What to think? What do I make of it? 

Boss?

&&&&&

And so, over a drink of two, I sat out back, overlooking the arroyo (a-roy-oh) with dogs and Andy, the Owner of our rental home.

I asked Andy, 

“Boss, I notice people addressing me as Boss, Andy. Are they calling me Boss, because I am a Gringo?” 

“Boss, is the title / term being used as a pejorative? Or is it some sort of cultural thing? An acknowledgement, making note, calling out, of our differences? Me = Gringo, You (worker, Guy, Gal) = Local?

I like (scratch that - love) what Andy told me.

Andy told me that Boss, in Mexican culture (especially younger people to older people) is a term of respect. One hundred percent, a term of respect.

(And I kind of, sort of detected that. There was never any surly tone that came with the end of transaction “Thank You Boss”, in contrast to some of the “Sir, Mr, or Cheif” pitches I’ve received. Some pitches feel like they’re aimed - straight at your head.)

My (great) college Friend, Pari, once told me about the term “Uncle” being used not literally, but in the same way, as a term of generational respect in Indian culture. Younger person to older person. “Uncle”

“Thank You Uncle.” 

“Thank You Boss.”

Nice.

Andy said, it is very nice, much appreciated, if the service was good, to give a compliment to the younger person. Acknowledge them. Starter Job. Young Person.

The (good) pitch: “Thank You Boss.”

The (base) hit: “Thank You for the Great Service.”

A smile - given.

A smile - received and returned.

(A good game.)

I get that. I get this (culture). 

It is good (here). I am wiser. Happy. 

Life is good - Boss.