On Tuesday I had a haircut and color scheduled in Blountstown, but first I had to drive into Tallahassee for a few groceries. I knew that the Publix on Tennessee would have everything I needed, and it’s on my side of town, so I pulled in there. After gathering everything on my list, including some amazing tomatoes, I went to the checkout.
The young lady stationed at the register complimented me on my hair. I thanked her then told her I was scheduled for a trim that afternoon. All perfectly innocent, right? Wrong. The slightly older-than-me woman who came up behind me in the line began a rant aimed at me and women like me.
She began with a rueful laugh, “You modern women,” she sneered. “You think you can ignore God’s law.”
I’m sure my eyes grew large, but I continued with my transaction and smiled at her, hoping to calm her down.
She quoted 1 Corinthians 11:15 in a scary voice, saying, “But if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.”
“You have shamed yourself,” she cried. “God’s word is not negotiable.”
Now, I looked this woman in the eye and calmly said, “Ma’am, I’m a breast cancer survivor.”
You should’ve seen her face. She backed down without saying another word. Of course I didn’t tell her that my diagnosis was 11 years ago, and that since I never had to undergo chemotherapy I never lost my hair, but the self-righteous old biddy deserved a bit of a comeuppance. No regrets.
Peace, people
Praying for Eyebrowz 
Old cow Leslie. A batty one at that.
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Yes, she was.
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But you lady? you’re a class act x
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I’m a weird one, though.
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That the best kind of class x
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😉
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OMG, I seriously thought this was all going to end up with you saying the whole thing was a pre-haircut dream, but no–real life–crazy real life!
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True story.
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If that is true Leslie….that is the best thing I have heard since Jesus created a bunch of free wine…….thank you for making my back hurt again !!…..:)
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Hahaha! It is true. Every now and then I think quickly. Those times are few and far between nowadays.
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Way to go. 🙂
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I hope she’ll think next time before she starts spouting off about what God wants.
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I know. I don’t preach my opinions to people I expect the same courtesy. 😛
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I don’t think she was playing with a full deck, if you know what I mean.
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yeah she was one away from being nun.
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Michael, she had rather short hair herself. I have to believe she wasn’t quite right.
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Oh, that was brilliant! Absolutely brilliant.
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Blushing!
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Isn’t it interesting how some people think they can push their values on others and use their interpretation of faith as a reason to be judgmental and mean?. Your answer was a perfect way to show her that one can never make assumptions.
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Hopefully she’ll think twice next time.
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Way to go Leslie! I see no difference in that woman and a schoolyard bully.
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I really think she might’ve been mentally ill. She was certainly over zealous in her religious fervor.
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Mental illness and/or dementia does seem like a possibility. Judging others wasn’t supposed to be part of religion as I understand it, but we see it often nowadays. Hopefully she learned something from your response.
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Maybe, just maybe, she’ll think twice before giving a lecture!
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Catwoods….judging others is the ROOT of all religions ….right up to the biggie….Eternity…hot or cool
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Coffeeonthedeckcom, I didn’t intend to discuss religion in depth but if Leslie doesn’t mind (Leslie you can take this off if you like) I will try to give you a thoughtful response. I’m an old “peace and love to all” 60s person. While I see what you are saying I interpret the judging part to be up to the deity not the humans; perhaps covered in the universal “Do unto others . . .” statement. So if I was confronted the way Leslie was, I’d want to somehow remind the person to live up to that statement. I think Leslie’s response did just that in a brilliant and instructive way.
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Well said, and I agree.
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Well played
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I hope she has nightmares about hurting my feelings. 😇
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