Not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but Brits sign their texts and emails with a kiss. Really. I first heard about it when an English actor, David Mitchell, was complaining about getting emails from his plumber (or someone) signed off with at least one ‘x’. I didn’t pay too much heed to it, because part of his on screen persona is to complain about people getting too close or personal with him, so I assumed it was just part of his schtick.
But no, it’s a thing. I’ve read articles in British newspapers about it becoming common in the workplace which I simply cannot imagine. It was bad enough at BMO when (and this started sometime in the early 2000’s, I have no idea why) everybody started greeting one another with a hug. A hug! How intrusive and unprofessional is that? One executive actually said, “I know Elaine hates being hugged, so I always hug her extra hard.” – haven’t missed that person in retirement, trust me. Sorry, off on a tangent there. Okay, so maybe an ‘x’ in print on an email from a colleague isn’t as bad as a coworker pressing her body against mine (let it go, Elaine, let it go), but I have to think it’s weird when your boss sends you a note saying “Can you arrange a meeting for 4 this afternoon? Thanks, <kiss, kiss>. Just plain weird.
All my acquaintances here do it too, and fortunately, so does my cousin. I say fortunately because about a year ago I was travelling back from my uncle’s and we broke our trip at a nice little inn & pub in a town called Boat of Garten. After dinner a very pleasant local gentleman approached Scout, and then ended up chatting me up for awhile before returning to his friends. We exchanged phone numbers and he texted me once or twice. And each time he signed it with an ‘x’. If my cousin hadn’t been doing that for several months prior, I would have been very creeped out. But I recognized it for what it was: a normal convention; and now, when I get a text from my hairdresser, or a friend, or neighbour, and it includes a kiss at the end, I know not to take it the wrong way.
But it’s still weird.
