Hot on the heals of one of my recent articles wherein I huffed and puffed about the lack of respect with which women of a certain age are treated in our society, my husband and I took a trip up to Quebec City to celebrate my birthday weekend.
Upon checking into our hotel in the lower section of Old Town, we asked the young gal at the reception desk how we might find our way to the restaurant we had chosen for that evening. It was in the upper section of Old Town and getting there required either a cab, using the funicular, trekking up a long hill or climbing what appeared to be 7,000 stairs.
She looked at me, grey hair betraying my 71 years of age (and sporting a brace on my foot and leg) and stated, “of course you don’t need a cab or the funicular. You most certainly will be able to walk to get to your restaurant. This was a quite a change from the hotel concierge in Snowmass, Colorado who, when was faced with suggesting an appropriate hiking trail for me, chose the one with the easiest terrain, stating it to be “a sweet and gentle walk that would be perfect for you, dear.”
Thus, we made our way to Upper Old Town - choosing to take the hill up and the stairs down. And we did just fine – despite my advanced age.
Our meal was outstandingly delicious, the restaurant gorgeous, the service impeccable yet not at all pretentious. And no one called me, “dear.” Not the maître d’ as he seated us; not the server when he took our order; nor the staff as they bid us, “adieu” when we left after dinner.
The next morning we chose to enjoy the breakfast at our hotel and, as the lower level was rather full, we were shown to the upper level – which could only be accessed by a long flight of metal stairs. No questions asked. We were escorted up the stairs and shown to our table. It was assumed that I would be just fine mounting the steps and, if not, it was up to me to ask for assistance.
No one, at any point, looking at my grey hair and slightly hindered mobility, professed doubt about my ability to do anything I wanted and go anywhere I desired.
Granted, this was a weekend trip and a small sampling of the folks who live and work in Quebec City. But it made me wonder if this lack of ageism is native to Canada – or at least the province of Quebec.
How wonderful it would be down here in the States if the same respect were afforded to the vast numbers of us of the silent and boomer generations. Hopefully, as we continue to remind the world of our worth: continue to live our lives vitally and vibrantly; the ageism we now experience will begin to vanish.
In the meantime, I look forward to a return trip to Quebec City when I have enough time to conduct a more conclusive study of this wonderful city and its people who don’t condescendingly call me, “cher.”
C.J. Golden, motivational speaker and author of TAO OF THE DEFIANT WOMAN, the award winning TAO-GIRLS RULE!, and the recently published REFLECTIONS FROM BEYOND, travels the country inspiring all with her dynamic spirit and vision. Visit her at www.taogirl.com and www.reflectionsfrombeyond.com