News of my death has been greatly exaggerated...

I had an odd experience this evening. I was sitting, enjoying dinner, when the phone rang. I picked it up and heard that suspicious 'nothing' for a second or two that is the tell-tale pause of looming telemarketing. Sure enough some perky so and so jumped in moments later with a "Good evening, may I speak with Mr. Neil Crone?" Then, without thinking, the odd thing happened. I said 'I'm sorry. Mr. Crone has passed away." Don't know why I said it and even for a man of my dark sense of humor, it felt, well, creepy. Like someone had walked over my grave. Still, the effect was instantaneous and little short of miraculous. "Oh, dear. I am so sorry. We will take him off of our calling list immediately". And that was that.
I suppose I should've felt elated and a small part of me did. But, a larger part was still creeped out. Announcing your own death is one of those weirdly taboo things that just isn't done. It's like tempting fate. And I'm amazed at how odd it made me feel. I guess, in spite of all of our modern education and intellect we're, a lot of us, still afraid of the dark.

Comments

[Cassandra H.]

Hey Neil!
That's one way to get rid of them! I personally love call display. Don't know the #, don't answer the call.

I am pleased about the Do not call list but think they should have been more strict with the rules.
I don't like that they think newspapers can still contact you.

My opinion - if I want your services - i'll call you. Don't bug me!

I'll have to try the dead line next time I get one that won't leave me alone.

Cheers!

[mouseslb]

?? did it not come in ?

[mouseslb]

https://www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca/index-eng Incase you have not been sent the url...I did this ,,much to my daughter's shame when I sent the "Toronto Star "the address for the cemetary where my husband was buried when they kept sending him mail for a subscription..
I thought it was funny!!

[Laurence Cutner]

How about, when they ask they say they want to talk to you about windows, answer 'sorry we use Macintosh only'.

[Cher]

Hey Neil! I have done the same thing many times. I usually say, "Is this some kind of sick joke? She died awhile ago....Why don't you get a real job and quit calling people and disturbing their lives!!" The first time I did this, I felt wierd too but now I just picture the person on the other end either getting up from their desk for a quick break to regroup or heading out the door never to return to this stupid line of work. My personal favourite is the "duct" cleaning calls. "Sorry, I don't have ducks but do you clean geese? No? How about swans then?"......click....hee hee