No, not the beam me up, Scotty/blow ‘em up with your death-ray gun variety, but the genus here on earth. Humans… people… annoying people… ok, let’s lay it on the table: galling sods who assume they can encroach on your private space.
It happens more and more, and as I get older, I have less patience for people who stand too close to me. As a matter of fact, it really pisses me off. Close encounters of the vexing kind.
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| Excuse me, what about the empty pen next door? |
The other day while I was standing in line at the bank, an elderly man kept nudging up behind me – even though the line wasn’t moving. After multiple “bumps,” I hoisted my handbag over my shoulder, and turned with enough force that the handbag smacked him in the chest. I think I winded him – go on, charge me with elder abuse!
I’ve actually leaned back slightly and taken a mini step backwards, making sure the heel of my shoe made contact with the toe of the person who was attempting to burst my personal space bubble. A little drastic, but once is all it usually takes to recover my personal territory.
Long ago, in a land far, far away, I remember being taught to respect a person’s private space. In school, children stood in a single file waiting for the bell or to enter a classroom. Teachers taught us to stretch out our arms and that’s the distance we were expected to stand from the person in front of us. Waiting in line at a bus stop, adults formed a single line and again, distance rules were respected. You didn’t dare step in front of someone who was already in the lineup nor did you hover close enough to make them feel uncomfortable. It just wasn’t done!
As far as I’m concerned, there are only two types of personal-space rules: my way and the wrong way!
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So no hugs for me? Blub!
ReplyDeleteI know you, you silly thing. It's strangers who make my fists tense up!
ReplyDelete