While at the counter of the local post office the other day, I asked for this year's Madonna stamps. You know, Madonna and Child, Jesus and Mary.
The clerk looked at me quizzically. "I don't think we have Madonna stamps. She's not dead yet."
Looking back at her quizzically myself I'm sure, she responded to my unspoken question, "Madonna. The singer."
"No, no," I answered. "Madonna and child. Mary and the baby Jesus."
A look of absolute horror jumped onto the young woman's face. "Oh, no! I've said something really bad!" she responded, covering her mouth in sheer terror.
"Oh, I don't think so. It's an honest mistake," I assured her.
I was able to buy the right stamps. And I'm not sure you have to have passed on to be on a postage stamp either. Still, I hope she doesn't feel too bad about it, because I don't doubt her confusion was honest enough.
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