Posts Tagged ‘respect’

Recently I had a long conversation with one of my closest far-away friends and was reminded of an incident a few years ago. We were having coffee with a group of acquaintances and began discussing a medical issue. I’d researched the topic and was confident in the data. She was equally confident in the anecdotal information she’d read. Soon we were in a heated disagreement that finally ended with a mutual decision to drop it!

If our companions were shocked by our passionate head-butting, it didn’t compare to their expressions when she nonchalantly asked, “Where do you want to go for lunch?” and I casually replied, “Oh, anywhere you’d like.” They still looked dumbstruck as we drove off laughing like we’d never exchanged a cross word.

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I’m standing at the counter in the doctor’s office, waiting to schedule my next checkup, when a stranger approaches and makes a snarky crack because I’m wearing a long-sleeve cotton t-shirt in the summer.

Now this woman could be Tommy Boy’s lost twin—not that there’s anything wrong with resembling Chris Farley. But she has a near-platinum rounded hair bob and is wearing solid smiley-face yellow from her collar to the cuff of her Capri pants. Perhaps not the wisest wardrobe choice for a female Farley.

So this giant lemon drop has strolled up to me, completely unsolicited, and—with all the condescension of Miss Piggy at her diva best—announced that I look ridiculous for wearing long sleeves. As we say in the American South, some people just need to be slapped. But that’s an expression, not rational problem-solving advice. Suppressing the urge to comment on being momentarily blinded by her neon presence, I simply say, “I’m comfortable,” and turn to the desk clerk.  

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