An American in Provence

Going from being called Mademoiselle every five minutes to Madame is strange. Here in France they seem to use titles a lot more- when you enter a store "Bonjour X" (X being of course Madame, Mademoiselle, or Monsieur). These are then followed by Merci X, Au revoir X, etc. Of course, I still get called Mademoiselle a lot. Probably because I usually am wearing a backpack and have my hair up in a ponytail and they figure I am about 17. If I am with Alain we usually get a Monsieur et Madame. Or if I am more dressed up I can sometimes score a Madame. I never know what to do. Say, "Excusez-moi, C'est Madame, s'il vous plaît."?
Mademoiselle is technically for all unmarried women, whether they are 12 or 72. But I think most people would not call an older woman Mademoiselle, especially if they were unsure of her status.
Another blog discussion on this.
http://www.nakedtranslations.com/en/2006/05/000617.php
And further
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11923774/

While I wouldn't launch a petition to remove the word entirely from the vocabulary, it does seem strange to be confronted with it on an hourly basis. In the US most people do not use Miss to address women, it is usually Ms or Mrs. On the other hand, non married women say that it makes them feel old to be called Madame sometimes.