Friday, July 30, 2010
Do you know what you're telling me? and Why?
I Returned to my usual Laundry Spot this Morning. For the last Month or so I have been going to a closer spot to save time. After greeting one on the regulars and exchanging pleasantries, I went on with the business of getting my laundry done. I got everthing into the wash and went to a local 'Drunkin Donuts' for a small Black Hazelnut Coffee. I returned to the Laundry, sat down; and preceeded to drink my coffee and listen to music on my Iphone. Appearantly the local (an older woman in her 60's) decided to sit down next to me and strike up a conversation. She started by commenting on the two guys at the other end of the Laundry (approximately 150' away from us) holding a conversation loud enough to be heard on the next block, then she segued into her thoughts on the latest Tropical Disease Scare in America. After giving her thoughts on the comunicability of diseases such as Aids, Hepatitis and TB. She assured me that she had personal knowledge that these diseases could easily be spread without intimate contact. Before I could agree or disagree with her findings she began to regale me with tales of her youth, which included the story of how she took care of her ailing mother (who had a respiratory plroblem) for years; and how she herself was later diagnosed with having antibodies for the TB Virus. Upon hearing this news I repositioned myself in my chair to not directly face her, and made certain to keep my mouth shut while she spoke. It clearly wasn't apparent to her that I was now uncomfortable with her proximity, because she positioned herself closer and began to punctuate her points with pojected words and arm touching. I tried to reassure myself that unless she spat directly in my mouth all would be well, but her every comment was designed to prove to me that diseases such as the one that she claimed to have antibodies for was easily comunicable. My chest began to hurt; It was all Like some very Twisted and Evil Candid Camera episode. luckily my wash was done and her dryer had stopped. If I'm ever to return to this Laundry, I'll have to adjust my arrival time. People please Listen to what you say to others, and keep your eyes open to the subtle and not so subtle body Language of those around you
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Why is it we have no problem telling people we care about and who care about us when they are being inappropriate, but we dont want to be "rude" to stranger?
ReplyDeleteThe world is full of people who invade your personal space, subway and street preachers, beggers with story designed to make you feel guilty, and those just seeking attention. Picking at the boil of their existence and letting it ooze into your space.
It is not rude to get up and walk away. It is a form of self preservation. Make an excuse if you need to in deference to her age but get the heck away.
well said
Delete👍😁
Delete