"scarletted"

have you ever received one of those back handed compliments
like this?

"lea, you're hair looks so pretty . . ."

then, before you can say, "why, thank you very much!"

"i mean, it's not nearly as frizzy as usual !"

yep.  yesterday.

the way i see it, there are a few responses to what i call having
been "scarletted."

the first is the "respond in kind" reply and has many variations
of this:

"well, fiddle dee dee!  scarlett, i thought you were about to give
a sincere compliment for a change.  silly old me." this one is very
tempting.

another tried and true reply is the "gomer pyle":

"for shame, for shame, for shame!  didn't your mama never tell
you?  'if you cain't say somethin' nice, don't say nuthin' at all!' "
this one might be fun for some, but most people don't like to be
'for shamed.'

the one i recommend though, is the one all of our mothers taught
us, taking the high road:

"oh . . ." it's important to leave a pregnant pause, because you
want scarlett to know you perceived the slight.  after all, you're
not stupid.  then follow that with:

"well, i always think your hair looks pretty."

love,
lea

ps. "in doing this you will heap burning coals on his (her) head."
proverbs 25:22