perna, you know i truly admire your depth, thoughtfulness, kindness and many more compliments i don't have space for here... i just had to comment... you said:

"some store clerk overheard and from then on addressed her as Dr. not understanding the reference :-)"

i am a part time store clerk... have been off and on my whole life...

we make mistakes... we are human... God knows how dumb i've been so many times...

but we are also the social mailmen of the times... we hear your thoughts, stories, wants, pains... and we are charged with keeping that happy wheel turning for everyone from every cross section of life, regardless of our mood... if we don't smile... it just gets down for a lot of people fast...

please be kind to your store clerks... store clerks... please be kind to yourselves... for the pay... one wonders how crazy/desperate we are to come in day after day and try...

and perna, i think you are very special too...