that's rude

   I think the older I get, the more, ahem, bold I get.

   Like, I don't just sit back and let people be rude. Or at least, I try not to.  And when I am appalled at how another behaves, and if it is in any way directed towards me, then I will say something.  Hopefully, with kindness as the intent...

  For instance, I was at the gym yesterday, you know, minding my own business at the free weights, just standing in front of the mirror doing curls. This lady walks up, positions herself directly behind me and is about to start doing her own curls.  She hesitates and pointedly looks at me.  I continue to work out. She continues to stare.  Then, her staring progresses into something else as she takes her hand, and with an annoyed look fixed on her features, proceeds to start shooing me away.

  Really.

   She is now definitively gesturing that I should move, because she can't see herself, because she parked herself behind me in the first place.  I wish, though, that you could see the look that was on her face, because it really did speak volumes; it was somewhere between smug and condescending, but smack in the middle of rude.  

   So I turn around and gaze at her with a huge question mark on my face.  Truly, you couldn't mistake my look.  At her continued gesturing, I finally say, Excuse me?  

    Well, I didn't know if you wanted to move so that I wouldn't hit you, she states.

    Well, I didn't know if you wanted to use words and actually ask me to move and say please, as well, I answer.  

    At this, she simply says, I didn't know if you could hear me because of your headphones...

    I can hear just fine, I say, very deliberately.  

    And with that, I move over for her to have the space that she so obviously wants.  

     But honestly, some people are just so rude.  Now, had that lady come up and maybe tapped me on the shoulder to get my attention (since she was so positive that I couldn't hear), and when she had it, simply said, Would you mind moving over, please? I would have moved in a heartbeat.  But her rude gestures, as if I were a dog, simply put, burned me up.

    And yes, I said something.  Apparently it is not just 3 year olds who need to be reminded to use their words and say please.  Hopefully the next time she wants someone to move, she will get her way in a less obnoxious manner.  I mean, whatever happened to good manners? Being polite? Using words, for goodness' sake?!

   Okay, just had to share.  As my nephew Ollie would say, that's it.