Texas endearments -- Ladies opinions welcome fer shore! (Houston, San Antonio: credit card, house)

[destin04]

I prefer to use and be called Sug....short for sugar. Hehe!

[love roses]

I love it when I get called any of those...and I call the little 2 yr. olds I assist with at a PDO sweetie and darlin' all the time.

[Bowie]

Aren't some of those southern terms of endearment used on occasion to cushion the blow of something not-so-nice that follows?

"Bless her heart, she looks like a sack of potatoes in that dress!"

[TexasHorseLady]

"Bless her heart" is something else entirely, I think. It's more "code speak".

[Gretchen_SDCA]

Originally Posted by blueskies49

I don't think anything of it, it's a way of life in Texas. I do know some women here from CA or the north don't like it. It's not just men using these terms with women, it's women, too, of all ages. I've had teen girls call me "hon" a time or two! And judging from their accents, they are originally from a small town. The city girls don't do that. At least not until they get older.

I've been called hon, darlin, doll, sweetheart, etc., both from guys I know as well as those I don't know. In fact, whenever I DO hear it, it reminds me that it's less frequently due to the many transplants.

To answer TexReb's question, as someone from CA I generally have no problem with it. I don't hear it very much in the cities when I visit, but occasionally someone has called me that in a restaurant. If anything, I find it "cute" and charming.

However, there is one big exception, and this is business dealings. Once, I was in Dallas for a deposition. One of the attorneys from the "other side" called me "hun" and suffice to say, he regretted saying that! I do not think terms of endearment have a place in a formal, business setting where one deals at arm's length. However, this has only happened once, and I find that most Texans who regularly use these names (that's if they even do) refrain from doing so in the business context.

Outside the business context, I have no problem.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by Bowie

Aren't some of those southern terms of endearment used on occasion to cushion the blow of something not-so-nice that follows?

"Bless her heart, she looks like a sack of potatoes in that dress!"

HAHAHAHA Good one, Bowie!

[blueskies49]

Originally Posted by Topaz

Anything but "ma'am" as it makes me feel ancient.

Where are you from, if I may ask? It's common here to call women of all ages ma'am. In fact, my husband and I will even say ma'am to his 10-year old daughter and her mother does, too. It's meant as a form of respect and manners.

[Topaz]

Really? OK, I'll try not to take it as a sign that I'm OLD.

I grew up in California, have lived in Wisconsin, Alabama, Colorado, Texas, Washington State, and Oregon.

[blueskies49]

Wow, you've lived in alot of states. I have a brother in Denver. Nice area but too cold in the winter for me!

[Topaz]

Yes, no more snow for me ever again unless I am on vacation. Humidity might be uncomfortable but it won't make your car skid into a ditch!