I like you.

Today I was trying to get a welfare participant to come in for her appointment with me, so that I would not have to close her case.  I was explaining that the previous appointment she had missed would not be a problem, as long as she came her rescheduled appointment.  I told her to make sure she came to this second appointment, and she gave me a lengthy reassurance that she would be there.  My response to this shocked us both, I think.  I meant to say “Sounds good to me” or “Great, I’ll see you then.” 

What came out was “I like you.” 

I am an imbecile on the phone.  What followed was a brief moment of uncomfortable silence, before she said something like “OK, I’ll be there.”  We both got off the phone as soon as possible, and we both (I assume) wondered why I just told a 45 year old black woman that I liked her. 

My coworkers (who know that I am an ass) tried to reassure me, telling me that they had inadvertently told clients that they loved them in the past.  Yet this seems understandable.  One gets in the habit of ending a conversation with “I love you” when they are talking to their significant others.  No one says “I like you.”  Because it’s a creepy-ass thing to say.  Psycho-killers, the deranged, and weird children…that’s who says it.  Proud company indeed.

 So now I am left try to put this phrase into common usage, so I don’t feel so creepy for having said it.  I now tell people I like them every chance I get, and I encourage them to do the same.  This stigma must be defeated. 

That said, I would like to let each of you know that I like you very much.  Please pass this on.  It feels creepy at first, but gets better.