Is there something on my face?

...It can't be that, because even on the internet I run into the same thing.

What am talking about?

Yesterday a woman came to the counter of my work place and ordered a chicken meal. This is far from uncommon, but when she spoke with me, I was: Sweetheart, hun, and--in closing--doll. She's not the first to refer to me as these. In fact, nearly half the people I serve, along with others at church, or on the street, both friend and stranger, call me some endearing name like "hun."

I asked a fellow associate if I had something written on my face that stood out more than my nametag. She just laughed.

While I don't hate such names, it always catches me offguard when everyone calls me by one of them. I just don't feel suited for them. A few more such endearing titles include: Miss, missie, love, darling, sweetie, and cutey. I've been called each of these more than once.

Do I really look so innocent?

But it's also the internet, where people can't see my face or hear my voice. Where they don't know me very well. Yet, while many of them are younger than I and don't refer to others in the same manner, I am still "hun" or "sweetie."

Apparently I am quite good at trickery. I've got the whole world deceived.