DING DONG AVON CALLING

DING DONG, AVON CALLING

Years ago, there was always some sales person pitching thier wares at our front door. Fuller Brush, Avon, Kirby vacuums, Watkins, the Jewel Tea man, encyclopedias, etc. We thought nothing of it. Why should we? It was an age of "convenience" before the Malls and superstores were born. A woman seldom worked outside her home and there were generally only one-car families. So it was great to have various suppliers and home deliveries of milk and bread come right to our front doors.

There was no need of danger either. In those days, one seldom locked their doors and often left the keys to the car in it. There were no worries that someone at our front door might be meaning to harm us by forcing themselves into our homes to rob us, rape us, or beat us. In that age of innocence, we trusted everyone. Often religious groups would be canvassing the neighborhood and we politely listened to them. I think that maybe to the stay-at-home wife and mother might have welcomed the diversion of door to door sales people and even the religious groups.

However today is a totally different world of suspicion, fear, and astuteness when it comes to door-to-door salesmen (yes, some still exist....I had a Kirby vacuum cleaner man approach me a couple of years ago) or a religious group. I know I would not let anyone in to sell me something nor would I let them sell me something from the front door. With the use and misuse of drugs, violence and such that would be like playing Russuan roulette.

But the question is how do you tell them to leave you alone (speaking now of religious groups as they seem to be the only ones canvassing the neighborhood). You try not to be rude as you shift your weight from one foot to the other while you wait for them to come up for a breath of fresh air and finish their speel. Most of the time, you slam the door in their face or tell them rudely that you are not interested.

In today's newspaper, "The Buffalo News", someone asked the same question of Dear Abby, Below are some responses people sent in regarding this subject. You might find one appropriate for your own use.

Dear Abby:

1. May I share my method? As soon as I heard the words, Jehovah's Witness", I simply reply, I'm sorry, but I did not see the accident."

2. I told the solicitors I would gladly listen to everything they had to say for 50 minutes. and would charge only $40.00 dollars an hour. Cash, please. At first they were confused, but I explained to them that this is what my time is worth.

3. We hung this sign on our front door, "We love our vacuum, we've found God, and we gave at the office."

4. A friend of mind had a unique solution to dissuade religious visitors from dropping by. She told them she was a practicing witch. She said they couldn't leave fast enough.

Also another approach would be to ask them to wait a minute while you shut something off on the stove, then close the door and don't come back.

ANSWER TO LAST TRIVIA QUESTION: What were the original 4 flavors of Jello? Orange, lemon, strawberry and raspberry.

TODAY'S TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1952 movie, "Bwana Devil" introduced what silver screen sensation?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded