(Several years ago, the Scandinavian Community Centre built a replica Viking longship. My husband and I are volunteering in the boat shed while the ship is being built, along with several others. We need to ask a question, but aren’t sure who to ask.)

Me: “…Do you know who would know?”

Fellow Volunteer: “Oh, sure, [Name] would know. He’s just over there.”

Me: “Um, which one is he?”

Fellow Volunteer: “He’s the Norwegian guy.”

Me: “They’re all Norwegian.”

Fellow Volunteer: “He’s the one with the grey hair.”

Me: “They all have grey hair.”

Fellow Volunteer: “Well, he’s the one with the glasses.”

Me: Uh… They all have glasses.”

Fellow Volunteer: “He’s the one in the project t-shirt!”

Me: “We’re all wearing the project t-shirt.”

Fellow Volunteer: *stops for a moment and looks at the group* “Okay… he’s the guy with the beard, beside the one with the camera.”

Me: “Awesome, thanks!”

(I am in a community youth orchestra and we have just finished running through a new piece.)

Conductor: “So this will be the hardest piece on the program. You’ll have to practice. Make sure you play all the wrong notes—”

(The orchestra erupts into laughter.)

Conductor: “The RIGHT notes! You played the wrong notes just fine…”

(I work as a secretary in a community center where children can attend day camps. They also have to pay in advance if they want to attend a special activity outside of the city. A mother calls.)

Me: “Community Center, how may I help you?”

Mother: “Hi! I know this must be difficult to do, since you have a lot to do with all the day camps, but I have a request.”

Me: “Yes?”

Mother: “Well, my daughter was registered for the activity that will be Friday on next week. I have already paid, but she won’t be able to go because we’re on vacation that week. I would like you to transfer her reservation to another child please.”

(I think that she wants to get her money back, like most of parents when they call.)

Me: “So you are asking me to give you back your money for this activity?”

Mother: “No, no! Of course not! I know it’s a bit complicated, but I would like you to transfer the reservation to another child that would like to go there, but doesn’t have the money for it.”

Me: “Oh, wow! Now I understand, and it’s very kind of you! May I have your name, your daughter’s name and your phone number so I can call you back—”

Mother: “Oh! I don’t need you to call me back; just to know another kid will be happy makes me happy! But my daughter’s name is [name], so you can remove the activity in her file. Thank you very much for doing this!”

(A customer comes in with a couple of kids, talking on her cell phone.)

Customer: *to me* “Two.” *continues talking on the phone*

Me: “For the indoor playground today?”

(The customer nods and holds out $20. I make sure to make eye contact with them, since she’s still talking on her phone.)

Me: “Okay, that will be $8.”

(I take the $20 and hand her the change, and since she is clearly distracted, I also make sure to get her a receipt before I put the wristbands on the kids.)

Customer: *to her phone* “She didn’t even tell me how much it was! She just took my money!”

This story is part of the People Who Should Get Off Their Phones roundup!

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(My boyfriend and I are a straight couple, at a photo-shoot for a fairly well-known pro-LGBT campaign. In these photos, participants wear white and have duct tape over their mouths to represent LGBT voices being silenced. We are stepping in front of the camera and both have duct tape over our mouths. I walk ahead of him, then turn around when I realize he isn’t following. He’s down on one knee holding a little red leather box with a beautiful pearl ring. I’m completely flabbergasted, clearly tearing up and neither of us are saying a word.)

Gay man standing in line: “Don’t you dare cry! Your mascara will run! Just say yes to your man!”

(I do cry, the mascara does not run, I nod my head yes and about 50 random people we don’t know take pictures with us after.)