It's crazy when you're a young person today and you come across a person quite older than yourself who's rude and lacks manners. Well I'm here to tell you regardless of how crazy it may be, it happens. Last Friday during happy hour, with a great group of friends, I came in contact with an older woman who was upset because her seats that she had been "holding" were taken when she arrived (no we hadn't taken her seats). Anyhow, she preceded to come near two seats in which I was holding with my jacket for two friends who were less than five minutes away. She began her rant by first telling me about her seats that were taken across the bar, and I should have to give mine up as well. I looked over her shoulder and saw that her husband didn't look in the best of health so I offered one seat for her husband to have a seat. That's when the b...., I mean rude woman decided to tell me that "You don't have a choice, I'm taking these seats" and moved my jacket!
That's where I almost lost it.... I regrouped and told the woman that she was rude, and that if she was going to act like that she could have the seats, but again told her that she was a rude person, and it wasn't necessary to make a big deal out of two seats at the bar. She ignored me and sat down, and then leaned over, and told me that she was out with her husband for their last meal before she put him in a nursing home. Now usually I would feel bad, however, I tried to tell her I understood that, but she went about the situation the wrong way from the beginning. The old hag told me that I didn't understand and she knew I taught at a local high school? I've never taught high school, however, there is another black male teacher who teachers at a high school who frequents the bar (let the record stand he's 30 years my senior, and has dreads) I guess we all do look alike (I don't mean this, but proves people really do think this way). Anyhow I told the no style having lady with her bedazzled jacket, that I didn't teach at the high school she was referring to, and honestly I was done having a conversation with her at that point. The woman and her husband along with a friend sat there for five minutes, and then moved to a table, GO FIGURE!
This incident taught me that I've grown considerably. The "Old" Brandon would have probably cursed the woman out, and told her to go to hell, however, I realize that people who have that type of attitude, and believe they can go through life railroading their way through events, strangers, and even friends have sad souls. I want to believe that her un-classy demeanor stemmed from her husband's health rather than from the root of her personality.
In the end, I have to remember, Treat others in the way in which you wanted to be treated, even when they're being an ass.
