Yesterday I went to buy a new pair of glasses. It took me about an hour to choose a frame that I thought would agree with my face. Finally when I went back with the trophy to the salesman he almost shouted with excitement, "That was exactly the frame I showed you first, remember ?" I did not remember the frame he showed me an hour ago, but did not contradict him. You know, in Montreal we are always in our best Sunday manners. Encouraged, he continued, "I knew it would look nice on you!"
I knew Montrealians had no qualms when it comes to praise somebody. They do not have to be pushy salesmen to come up with most flattering words. It is not uncommon here that totally strange people on the street stop and say few nice words about your watch or shoe for nothing more than a friendly smile. But I felt this man was rather unimaginative when I heard him speaking to the next customer in line, "This was the exact same frame I showed you first, remember ?"
Today, at the butcher's, the lady at the counter could not stop exclaiming, "Wow! this is so nice a design- I haven't seen such a great design recently." the alluded design was on my credit card. Perhaps she could not find anything else about me worthy of her admiration.
It is nice to be treated pleasantly even if some of it is just show. I take it to be the English manners. French are usually sulky, though they can make better friends.
Coming out of the butcher's, I came across a bilingual beggar sitting in the pavement. His card read, in both English and French, "you look too good today! can you spare some change ?"
Well, thank you Montreal, you are at your best today!
