every time i think i've hit the bottom of the barrel, someone drills a hole

i wish i were kidding about this. really and truly, i do. the following is an actual conversation i had to have at work this week. to set the scene, let me tell you a few things. it was daytime. the woman who approached me had on a very nice suit, coiffed hair, just enough (but not so much that you would gag) nice perfume, and a leather bag. she looked to be in her late forties and had good posture. i smiled and asked what she needed. thus ensued the hilarity...

cust: do you know who wrote the diary of anne frank?
me: anne frank.
cust: yes, i'm looking for the diray of anne frank... who wrote it?
me: anne frank.
cust: the DIARY of anne FRANK!
me: come with me... do you know who anne frank is?
cust: yes, of course i do. i'm looking for her diary.
me: uhhhhmmmm... it's her diary, right.
cust: i mean, i know it's her diary. i just want to know who wrote it!
me: anne frank.
cust: yes, ANNE FRANK!!!
me: oh, okay. here we are. which one would you like?

do you feel better about yourself now? as time went on, i wondered what kind of a person she was. is it possible that she was a lawyer, an accountant, a community leader? was she there to pick this up for her child? was this woman really allowed to breed?!?!

and furthermore, how did i keep a straight face through this entire (albeit brief) conversation?

of course i ran into someone i knew a few moments later and just had to recount the event. yes, my acquaintance was having a bad day up until that moment. in fact, most of us in the building seemed to be under a dark cloud until this happened, so anne frank lady served her purpose quite well in the end. a few hours later, i received a call from someone looking for the autobiography of malcolm x, "written by malcom x, of course" and had to smile. did you know that you can find it under alex haley's name? ironic humor is not lost on me.

such a scene is the tip of the iceberg, i tell you. sometimes i wonder how any of us even makes it through the day without getting trapped in a ravine or cutting off our fingers with some random implement. so i beg of you all, take a second to open your eyes and ears. learn something and don't be ashamed to espouse the knowledge of who how to use cash or where to find the bathroom (see, they make these things called signs that are right out there for you to read!) to others. i forgive anne frank lady for her ignorance because i desperately needed to laugh. but really.... i mean, REALLY! what is her life like?


my latest (revived) obsession:
i heart ribbon!