Its a Small World After All

I just received the best voice mail message at work.  I had called a United Nations program this morning to request some information and materials.  After navigating the extensive phone menu options, I left a message, went to lunch, and assumed it would be at least a week before I heard from them.  Not so. 

I got back from lunch and checked my voice mail.  One new message.  It began like this, "Hello Sarah, this is the United Nations calling.  We received your message this morning and...." 

No name, no department or affiliation, just "This is the United Nations calling." 

A bureaucracy as vast as the UN, and the caller identifies himself as the UN?!  It's like saying "This is God calling" or "This is the White House calling."  I love it.  Not only did it make the caller sound absurdly self-important, it also added a ridiculous bit of false prestige to my own job.  I later learned from the receptionist that he identified himself as the United Nations when he asked to be connected to my phone extension.  The laughs we got out of it provided the perfect distraction from a stir-crazy Friday afternoon.  I have the message saved for posterity.  Have a great weekend!