You Just Can't Fix Stupid

I had a client say something to me today that was so hurtful, so heinous, that I can't believe I didn't reach over and slap him across the face.

I was checking out a fairly new client (so new, in fact, that I had never met him before this morning) and we were setting up his next appointment. This is our conversation, VERBATIM.

Him: "I guess I need to go ahead and schedule Daisy's appointment for her spay." (for those of you not versed in veterinary terminology, a spay is a full hysterectomy for animals.)
Me: "No problem! Let's see what next week looks like, so we can find a date that's convenient."
Him: "While we're at it...let's go ahead and set up your spay as well."
Me: *thinking that I may have misheard him* "Um...excuse me?"
Him: That's right. We need to set you up for a spay. You don't need to be having kids anyway.
Me: *completely speechless...not knowing what to say* "Um...well....I don't really think that's an issue right now. So...how about we set Daisy up for next Tuesday?"
Him: "Sure, whatever. Tell you what, I'll bet you that if you never have kids, your husband would be excited. It's always you women that want kids, and husbands just go along with it. Get spayed and make your husband happy."
Me: ".......Well, since I may never have kids anyway because I'm infertile, I guess my husband will be @%(#$%&* THRILLED."

That's when I slammed his dog's medication down on the counter and stomped to the back of the hospital. I asked (as nicely as I could manage without screaming) if someone else could go up front and finish the transaction.

Then I sat on the floor and cried. I don't care who you are or what you've been through....no one should feel like it's okay to joke about something like that. Whether it was an intentional stab to my broken heart or something said in complete jest, it was completely uncalled for. I just can't wrap my head around someone being so incredible stupid and insensitive. What kind of man would joke with a COMPLETE STRANGER about that?

After about 5 minutes of tears....I stood up, washed my face, put my happy mask back on, and went back to work. Because I had to. I had 12 hours left in my shift and I couldn't just not do my job, regardless of how incredibly crappy I was feeling.