That’s such an odd thing to say.
While reading your story, I couldn’t help imagining her saying it and wiggling her fingers as if casting a curse on you, though I know that’s not the case. 
Huh? I am missing the joke. This makes me sad. 
See you next Tuesday = C U Next Tuesday
Good one.
He’s not that bad really, he thinks he’s making a funny joke. If I hadn’t been swamped with work I would have A: laughed with him and said I had other, better excuses or B: actually just invited him through to the office and reminded him yet again that we prefer him to make a freaking appointment (while proving that he doesn’t need to).
Thanks for the explanation and laugh. Now I can concentrate on work again!
I have lived in the south all my life, and I can most certainly assure you that “bless her heart” is, depending on context, just about the worst thing a particular type of old southern lady can say about someone. Usually it isn’t said directly TO anyone - but instead is used when talking about them later.
Example:
“Well, my Susie tried again last week - she told me she said she lost her food-stamps card again and she really needed that new one cause little Johnny has the diabetus and her Janie - you know she’s only 14 next week - got herself knocked up, bless her heart, and Susie said she told those ladies she just needs that new card to get by, you know. 'Course she didn’t say anything 'bout that sketchy old geezer hanging out in the trailer park she’s going to sell it to for crack instead - bless her heart, she probably thinks those ladies were born yesterday…”
Actual (slightly paraphrased) conversation overheard between a few ladies (not the actual agency workers, I might add) a few months ago while I was acting as moral support for my friend who was applying for SNAP aid.
I have never heard “God Bless” as fuck you, but I have heard “good day” as “die in a fire” pretty often in my very short stint as a telemarketer (I know - I’m sorry. I needed to eat.)
Believe me, if someone wears their Christianity on their sleeve, I’m the first to think that I’m going to get ripped off. Like was posted up thread “quit doing crappy work in the name of God”.
First, you must live in a freeky place.
BUT, this is not Christian. It is human nature to be like a six year old and think that we should get everything we want, just becuase. That is why the ‘name-it-and-claim-it’ division of Christianity is booming right now. God is one big vending machine and the world is supposed to hand everything they ever desired over to them. They’re no more Christian than a kid who puts on a paper head dress is Native American.
In reality, God says that people will be persecuted for following Him and that they should count all those troubles as blessings and rejoice in them.
So, by turning down their work, you were blessing them. Don’t feel sorry for running your business in a responsible way. Because God tells us to be good stewards of all that we’ve been entrusted with. That would also include the finances of your shop.
I’ve had someone tell me that she was “praying a curse” down on me.
Yeah, that didn’t make any sense to ME, either.
From the way I have heard the phrase “Bless his/her/your heart” used it means “he is lying like a cheap rug” or “he doesn’t have two brain cells to rub together”. But the listener knows what the speaker means.
All of my relatives on my mother’s side are from Alabama. “Bless his heart” usually means the opposite of “Bless his little heart.”
The first is derision. The second is joyful.
Indeed. “God bless you” doesn’t have any more secret vitriolic meaning than any other pleasantry that can be spoken sarcastically or disingenuously. The guys could just have easily said “Have a good one” or “Thanks anyways” with the same inflection and the same meaning.
This whole thread, but espicially this post, reminds me of something.
Back when I worked in a video store, we would put posters for other people’s concerts and what not in the window. Someone would come in with a concert poster, a clerk would put it on the owner’s desk, and the owner would, at her discretion, tape it up in the window.
One night a guy came in asking permission to put up his poster. I told him I’d give it to the owner so she could put it up. He started arguing with me, asking me why I was being so difficult. I explained the policy again. He got more irritated. I explained again. He asked me why I was being a dick. I explained again. He asked why “Lesbians Galore” could put up their posters, but not him. (This was in a very gay/lesbian-friendly community.)
Maybe I was mumbling. Maybe I was speaking in Chinese. But I’m pretty sure that I was explaining things very clearly. But all he was hearing was “No, we hate you and your horrible poster.” I finally convinced him to leave it as he walked out in a snit.
I did hand the poster to the store owner, along with a rundown of how the conversation went. Let’s just say she “blessed” his poster.
Yeah, right.
Reminds me of a neat story. A guy was touring someplace that built large beautiful custom wooden boats. One of the craftsman was working hard on an area of the boat that would be permanently sealed up eventually. All that needed to be done was a rough sanding and throwing some epoxy on it. This guy was going above and beyond (and to be honest probably just wasting time and effort for no good reason).
The guy asked “why are you working so hard on that area? Nobody will ever see it”.
Craftsman replied “God will”.
I’ve heard that same story, except that the “boat” was the Sistene Chapel, the unseen part was the remote corners of the ceiling, and the craftsman was Michelangelo. I have no idea if it’s a true story.
I heard it as a stone carver doing stonework in a section of a cathedral that was out of public view (being too high or a strange angle or something like that.) I assume the story is apocryphal, but it’s still a nice story.
It’s a nice story and a nice practice. That’s true craftsmanship!
Indeed.
Every time I refuse to give a bum a quarter, “God Bless You, sir.” This passive-aggressive game is just a tiny way to assert their dignity.
If I’m feeling mean, I say “Next time, try opening with that line.”