Rosemarie Is Living in the Wrong Thyme

*The following is a way for me to post something without actually working very hard at it. It is letter recently received at work and I have re-typed it, errors and all. I will, however, be adding commentary which will be in bold italics (I did consider a different color, such as red, but, decided against it for reasons I do not know). I don't know how this is going to work. I will give it a whack.

If you would like to read the letter as is, then you should follow the link here. And then you can go back and read what I had to say. Please, just don't judge me, on both what I have to say and being lazy about my postings. God bless and good night.

Dear Jeremy H_____, (Manager of Walgreens)

I and my husband [Okay, I am not an English teacher and, if you have read any of my posts, you will understand that I treat English and grammar as free form jazz. With that being said, this beginning is totally unacceptable. Minus 78 points for the opening.] shop regularily at your store and the employees are mostly very polite and well dressed. [I smell a set up.]

I'm writing because I was paying for something [As opposed to the 10% of our clientele that thinks that the prices posted are merely suggested prices.] at the make-up counter friday [Just an aside here – this letter was typed on a Smith Corona Galaxie 12. I can tell by the slightly left tilting “r”. So, spell check is a bit difficult to use.] or so and was very offended by a large poster display of a very sexually attired woman. Her cleavage was very offensive [I think that she meant “inviting”] and degrading to anyone who was forced [I now remember this customer. Yes, I whipped out my Glock and stood there.] to see this 'pinup' photo..

I asked the employee at the counter to please turn the photo around [Turn around, every now and then I get a little bit terrified and then I see the look in your eyes.] and she relunctantly did saying she's this months' celebrity”. I shockingly said, “celebrity of what? Looking like a slut? [Whoa there, Rosemarie. You kiss your grandkids with that mouth?] It's very offensive and degrading to women who have to see this. “She turned it around for me anyway and I said 'thank you' and left.

How much more degradation, humiliation and insensitivities must we women be subjected to? [I would guess, maybe, 297 more points worth.] All I wanted to do was pay for an item and not find myself in a 'Playboy” like corner [I could only imagine what you would say if you found yourself in the 'Busty Backdoor Bimbos' corner.] embarrasing me and other customers who feel as I do? Most women who are offended are too shy to say something so they silently suffer insult. Men surely don't have to face this.[How does she know this? Has she walked a mile in my shoes? I am constantly harangued and harassed based on my total hotness. Women ogling me, hurling sexually lurid comments in my direction. Alas, I am too shy to stand up for myself ,thus, my dignity continues to fall even further. Aaaaaarghhhhhhh! I just want them to see me for the person that I am, both inside and out. Life is so unfair.]

It's bad enough when magazines are displayed showing cleavage and sexualized poses and attire in the check out. Cosmopolitan is the worst. Cub foods, thankfully, has made the effort to cover that one with a plate [If we could borrow from you some of the fine Franklin Mint collectible plates that you undoubtedly have decorating your dining room, I am sure we could arrange something.] which I recommend you do too, or cancel that magazine. It seems other magazines are listening to us and haven't had offensive covers in a long time. I refuse to buy any magazine that degrades women and uses us as sex objects.[Even “Woman's World” has some pretty provocative stuff inside the covers and that is a mega-tame magazine. And, I need to note, you are not single-handedly bringing the publishing world to its knees.]

It is up to the store to protect children and treat women wth dignity by not displaying sexualized photos. If you won't cancel those magazines then cover the pictures and put them high up covered so minors don't see them and women can feel comfortable shopping.

Shopping for women and children has become very unpleasant and embarrassing. We are trying to protect our grandchildren and enjoy shopping but find it impossible with the sexual exploitation of women's bodies on magazines and other displays, as that trashy 'celebrity' pinup.[Yeah lady, please do not succumb to the use of children to try and manipulate and play on one's emotions to sway me to your side. If you are going to make any sort of argument as to why or why not something should be taken down or changed, please come from logic and reasoning. Lay out a good argument. This whole “for the sake of the children” crap is lazy. Kinda like me using your letter for a blog posting. Utter trash.]

Men are treated with respect so please give us women that same respect and help protect our children from sexualized images. We never grew up in such a society where women were constant pin-ups everywhere.[Are you Amish by any chance? Blind? Held captive in a root cellar? Just to let you know, they have been, grow up.]

Thank you for your time and please help protect our children's innocence and show respect for women. If one store cares others will gradually follow and this includes having employees dress modestly as well by not showing their cleavage or tight mini skirts.[Left turn.] Your store seems to have made that effort to expect employees to dress neatly and modestly. Other stores such as Super One groceries and Cub foods have employees wear identical tops that can't be pulled down to show cleavage. If businesses expect decent attire then it also sends the message to customers and even the employees that sexuality belongs in the privacy of the bedroom not in you store.[I don't even know where to go with this??? I am just wondering if she wishes that women that are the slightest bit chesty duct tape them down and back so as not to offend other women (and children, of course).]

Sincerely yours,

Rosemarie M_____

(my husband, Dennis M_____, agrees)[This was the best part for me. I would like to get Dennis' honest opinion about this whole thing. I am sure he doesn't even know that his name was attached to this letter let alone this letter even existing. Poor guy, I want to set him up with a years subscription to “Playboy”.]