Has this happened to any of you when traveling with an escort?

[Guest]

I was traveling with an escort last week (we were upgraded to First Class), when the stewardess asked me "Is this you son?". I thought that was particularly weird, because the flight crew have passenger manifests, and our last names were not at all the same. For some strange reason, I found it more embarrassing than having her assume he was my escort. Have you guys had similar experiences (either as escorts or clients)? In his late 20s, he is old enough to be my son. I guess I gotta accept it. I suppose that maybe one of these days, when I'm in my late 60s, they may be asking "Is this your grandson?" <Gack!>

[adriano46]

This is a result of this growing (and to me annoying) need for people who are in the hosting industry (be it steward, stewardess, water, waitress etc...) to draw you in (over and over) in useless banter when you are not interested.

 

Suffered through a long cross-ocean flight on US Air (which has got to have the most "mature" [elderly] flight crews anywhere -- heck I think most of the stewardesses were older than me and the steward about my age!!!) and they kept trying to make jolly conversation when I was either (with earphones) trying to sleep, or just read a book.

 

I am tired of going into a barber shop and having to put up with "Are you working today?" when I obviously am at that moment NOT working and why do they care as I am not about to share deeply with them about my work, my life... Ugh... I have a case of the Christmas grumpies today. Better stop here.

 

Unicorn, I was out to dinner a few months back with an escort who is clearly not young enough to be my son, and I was asked the same question (as we both had the same color of hair). He is from PR, I am Irish.... go figure. We laughed and he made a few gestures that made her run thinking we were into incest or something.

[AdamSmith]

Similar happened to me shortly after Rekers' little incident hit the news.

 

I couldn't stop myself saying, "Oh, I'm just along to handle his luggage."

 

http://smellytongues.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/george-rekers.jpg

[Becket]

On a recent few days I was the "uncle." I guess it's ok if you are going to be around lots of other people during your trip. And it certainly cuts down on the PDA, which is a service to everyone. Hope none of my real nephews ever want to do to me what "kevin" did to me when we were not in public.

[Bosguy]

It has happened to me a couple of times, but last year one of my favorite guys came to visit for a long weekend. He is early 30's, Italian, and very handsome. I'm Irish/Italian in my 60's so he could certainly be my son. We went to my favorite Italian restaurant where I know some of the servers but they don't know my personal life. Of course, the remark "Your son is very nice looking" came up. I just said thank you and moved on with dinner. Later we both laughed about it. I took it as a compliment because he truly is such a handsome young man and carries himself so well in all social situations.

 

Boston Bill

[bobchitown]

I was once on a flight from Amsterdam to Florence. Across the aisle from me was an older gentlemen with someone who I pegged as his "boy toy". Just a little too clingy, etc. One guy old and wrinkled, one young guy with that hungry look in his eyes.

 

Amazingly, a few days later I was on the same flight going back to Amsterdam, and they were AGAIN across the aisle from me, the boy toy had clearly gone on a shopping spree in Florence but all was not right with the world. They were sitting as far apart from each other as two people can be on a plane, and each had a little black cloud above his head. LOL

[Steven_Draker]

Interesting ... What kind of FC is this? US Airways?

 

If you were embarrassed by the situation or the question, then you were probably with the wrong guy. There's nothing embarrassing or awkward about it.

 

You should be proud.

[Boink]

This is a result of this growing (and to me annoying) need for people who are in the hosting industry (be it steward, stewardess, water, waitress etc...) to draw you in (over and over) in useless banter when you are not interested.

 

I agree with this behavior being annoying and I'll extend it to all retail clerks. Whenever I pay for something with a credit or debit card, even for the quickest, simplest transaction, I don't need the cashier looking at my receipt and saying 'thank you, Mr. Boink.' Something about that rubs me the wrong way. A reminder that big brother is constantly watching. Please - somebody somewhere allow us the fantasy of even a little bit of privacy / anonymity. A simple 'thank you' will suffice.

[daviddd49]

I once had a waiter in a fancy steak house ask if my escort was my son. We were both tickled by the question. He perked up immediately when the question was asked and replied "yes, I am! And it's my Dad's birthday!"

 

We had a great big laugh about it during our after-dinner play time.

[daviddd49]

On another occasion I was at dinner with one of my favorite escorts -- in NYC -- and the waiter at this "swank" establishment just assumed that we were a "couple" ... even despite the obvious age difference (I look and am about 20 years older than him). At one point, before taking our orders, he asked "Would either you or your partner like to see the wine list?" I said thank you and accepted the menu. My dear escort played footsie with me all during dinner, took my hand on occasion, and was otherwise affectionate with me the entire night. He usually is, but this night he was more overt about it (i.e., taking my hand "above the table," as it were). As we left the restaurant he took my arm, leaned in close to me, and said "so, dear husband, where to next?" It was a charming moment, and one that immediately had me as hard as a rock. Needless to say, we went back to the hotel room for "round 2."

[geoffk]

I agree with Boston Bill , you just can't let this bother you. I've had guys tell me to say i'm their uncle incase any one asks, i might even say he's my boy friend, this usually weirds them out and then they will leave you alone. Once a bartender over heard me call a guy "master". She needed an explanaton of that. Haha. And the last time i was in AC the guy I was with went back to a black jack table we were playing at and some of the same guys were there from earlier. They asked my friend what happened to his gay lover. LOL. he then proceeded to pick up the girl next to him.

[leigh.bess.toad]

I guess one of the advantages of liking and hiring guys who are more mature, and in many ways, much closer in age to myself, is we don't get that question. However, I have gotten the other question.

 

I was at Palm Springs weekend 2 years ago. I was with Legendary Dave. We were out at Streetbar doing karaoke on Sunday night. I'm certainly older than Dave but not father/son older. First thing I've discovered is that when you sing well at karaoke at a gay bar, you can get hit on a lot more. That night I was being hit on by this attractive guy about my age. Then his husband came up, who was probably close to Dave's age. And they both wanted me to go home with them. Of course I put them off. A bit later Dave and I were out on the patio taking a break when the guy my age came up to us and we started talking. He asked us if we were partners. Dave gave me the quick look for permission, which I immediately gave. And we talked to them about Dave being my escort and me being a client. He was quite interested in it. It was such a positive reaction, when I explained all I had gotten out of the escort/client relations I had.

 

The kicker to me is that a bit later I found out the guy who was my age was an Episcopal priest. I've never been hit on by an Episcopal priest before. And his husband.

 

I'm not ashamed or embarrassed in the least bit that I hire and that my escorts have made my life so much better in so many ways. Obviously there are times you can acknowledge it and times you don't. Like Saturday night. When my partner and I were hosting a Christmas party at his house (with his ex and his partner). And when a friend showed up with 2 of my escorts who were in town, sort of as a surprise present for me. The other guests at the party were certainly wondering how I had so many gorgeous friends from out of town (several of them had previously met Tyger when he visited me before surgery last year). It certainly took the party to a new level. My partner and I were laughing hysterically at the reactions. Especially that of his ex. Now THAT was fun.

[kevininsa]

...I don't need the cashier looking at my receipt and saying 'thank you, Mr. Boink.' Something about that rubs me the wrong way... A simple 'thank you' will suffice.

 

Thanks. I didn't think very many people held that opinion. Maybe because I'm a bit shy anyway?

[Steven_Draker]

I don't need the cashier looking at my receipt and saying 'thank you, Mr. Boink.'

 

Not if you're spending $9,99

 

If you're forking out 1K, they'd better acknowledge you by name.

[Daverwr]

For the restaurant scene, you can shut them up by saying, "No, he's not my son. He's someone I'm paying by the hour. So if you could hurry up and bring the check, I'd appreciate it. Thank you." Works every time!

[Epigonos]

This kind of thing never really bothers me. It has happened a couple of time and I always replied the same way "No he's not my son he's my father". Now that stops them in their tracks and nothing more is said. These people are ALL strangers and I could care less what they think.

[nate_sf]

For the restaurant scene, you can shut them up by saying, "No, he's not my son. He's someone I'm paying by the hour. So if you could hurry up and bring the check, I'd appreciate it. Thank you." Works every time!

 

LOL I'll have to remember that one.

 

I had the opposite happen once. Years ago my Dad (i.e. real father) and I went to a Cambodian restaurant in the Mission. I think I was in my 20s at the time, so dad would have been in his 50s. The waitress was very friendly but also quite irreverent and had a mischievous glimmer in her eye. Towards the end of the meal she said, "So are you father and son, or..." and then she smiled and raised her eyebrows. I was totally mortified.

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

My typical answer is he's my nephew. I have several friends whose children have always referred to me as "Uncle Sam" even into their adult years that it seems to work and their are not usually follow up questions.

[+ purplekow]

A simple and polite: "Why do you ask?" may direct the question in the direction it was intended. Perhaps the person was going to mention how handsome the man with you is. if they were just being nosy, they will usually stumble and change the subject.

[Guest]

My typical answer is he's my nephew. I have several friends whose children have always referred to me as "Uncle Sam" even into their adult years that it seems to work and their are not usually follow up questions.

 

Gulp. I have been traveling with a nephew (really a 2nd cousin once removed) who's about this escort's age. Now I'm wondering if people are thinking he's a guy I hired. Of course, when I travel with my nephew, we sleep in separate beds, and with the escort in the same bed. At least I haven't had the hotel keepers ask about my relationship with my traveling companions. Both the escort and my nephew do bear a resemblance to me... I would think that the chemistry between us might be visibly different. Although it's not as if I have my paws all over my escort when we're on the plane or when I check into a hotel.

[ericwinters]

davidddd sounds like an awesome evening!

[Greathands]

Though my partner (who is 20 years younger) and I typically go out to eat on Sundays, the one Sunday we've stopped going out is Father's Day because we inevitably get the questions/comments. Though after reading Nate's response above, I think having people think we're father/son would be much better than thinking a real father/son might be something else!

[+ VeryHappyCustomer]

Many years ago, a friend of mine from a very conservative family took time off from college to find himself. Bold and extremely cute, he supported himself by escorting. He favored business travelers in Boston's convention hotels, where he'd work the bars kitted out in black 501s, a peel-off tee shirt, and a designer leather jacket. He looked like a cross between a rich twink and a go-go boy. One night his angry father marched him out of a Marriott, forced him into the passenger side of his midlife-crisis convertible, and started the grim drive home to New Canaan. They were stopped by police who thought the father was his John. My friend played dumb. I just googled him and can report that he's now a partner at a law firm. A remarkable guy. LOL.

[Professor Mitch]

I'm not ashamed or embarrassed in the least bit that I hire and that my escorts have made my life so much better in so many ways. Obviously there are times you can acknowledge it and times you don't. Like Saturday night. When my partner and I were hosting a Christmas party at his house (with his ex and his partner). And when a friend showed up with 2 of my escorts who were in town, sort of as a surprise present for me. The other guests at the party were certainly wondering how I had so many gorgeous friends from out of town (several of them had previously met Tyger when he visited me before surgery last year). It certainly took the party to a new level. My partner and I were laughing hysterically at the reactions. Especially that of his ex. Now THAT was fun.

 

So glad you liked the surprise! We worked very hard to keep you from finding out they were coming to Richmond.

[+ poolboy48220]

not a hire, but I've got a former dancer staying at my house. We were buying groceries and he knew one of the guys working at the store, and I overheard the guy ask "Is that your dad?" Then buying Christmas lights at Target, we happened to get the same cashier twice in a row, who mentioned both times how lucky I was to have a young son that could do all the ladder-climbing.