I was alone at the bus stop yesterday morning and standing at the far corner of the glass enclosure, which is where I always like to stand when it’s available, because it shields me from the wind coming off the river. A younger man approached, and rather than walk past me to also stand in the enclosure, he stood just on the outside, as if he was lining up beside me. A few more people walked up as we waited, and all of them also stood outside in line, and I was thinking, “What a civilized people we are.” I moved to the other side of the enclosure so all of them would feel free to move over and come inside, too.
When the bus pulled up moments later, it stopped directly in front of me, and I casually stepped forward to claim my rightful position as first on, when out of nowhere, this older lady rushed over from the right and attempted to intercept me. I have no idea how long she had been waiting there, because the right side of the bus stop enclosure is covered over with an ad for an opera singer who looks like Russell Crowe. All that was clear to me was that I had been the very first person at the bus stop, so no matter how long she’d been hiding, I’d been there longer.
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Just because they are old ladies does not mean that they are by default, “nice.” It would stand to reason that rotten young people are likely to turn into rotten old people.
I am totally guilty of being that shrimpy lady. Except I don’t offer up a dumb look at comments, I just pretend I’m invisible (and shrink myself against the door a little more so that people can move in past me – I’m not unreasonable, just stubborn!). The overhead rails are terrifying. And when you’re shrimpy and not pretending you’re invisible on your own, other people will kindly do it for you. For example, a smaller person stuck in the middle of the car, precariously hanging from the overhead rail from her tip-toes, trying to move toward the door to get off at the next stop will be completely ignored when she screams “excuse me” at the top of her lungs, every time.
But I totally don’t mind being shoulder-checked. I’m just not moving.
And you were completely in line with the old lady at the bus. I don’t know when “respecting your elders” started to mean you just give them whatever they want, regardless of whether or not they deserve it.
Who the hell do these old bats think they are?!
I mean seriously. Old ladies be crazy!
So funny. I like to think that you’re making up for all the elderly that take advantage of that “respect your elders” crap. My bet is your karma is just fine.