When we tell a true story, especially one in which tempers flared, the tendency is always to make oneself the good guy in the retelling. I’m going to do my best to relate the story of an interaction I had yesterday in a Publix grocery store as rationally and objectively as I can. Wish me luck.
I’d had a beautifully relaxing facial on Thursday morning, and was driving home to Doright Manor when I remembered that we needed a few items from the grocery store. Since I was just a mile or so from a Publix store I changed my route slightly and headed there.
First I went to the beauty aisle to pick up some shampoo for Studly Doright. He’s the most manly of men, yet he likes what I call, “Froo Froo” scented shampoos. Lots of florals or fruit essences. Sometimes I sneak in a more neutral scented shampoo, but I always end up having to use it because he won’t.
Then I shopped the produce section, searching for apples, oranges, strawberries, bananas and pineapple to satisfy our juicing habit. Studly really enjoys making juice every evening, and I try to keep fresh fruits on hand to encourage this new habit. Better fruit scented juice than fruit scented hair, I always say.
Finally I went to pick out a steak or two for him. I seldom eat meat anymore, but Studly does. I pulled my cart up parallel to the meat case, leaving a couple of feet between the cart and the case so others could peruse the section, as well.
I picked up one package of meat, placed it in a plastic bag inside my cart and turned to get another one. At the same time this big bruiser of a woman pulled her cart between mine and the case, moving me out of the way. I politely waited, thinking she’d be through soon, but she pulled out her phone and made a non-food related call.
“Excuse me,” I said. “Are you going to be awhile?”
“As long as it takes, lady.”
“Do you think perhaps I could have some room to get to the steaks?”
“When I’m done,” she said.
Okay, here I was wearing my peace sign t-shirt, feeling my blood pressure spike. This woman was almost my height, maybe an inch less than my 5’8″, but outweighed me by a good 50 lbs.
I indicated my cart, and said, “In case you hadn’t noticed, I parked my cart to allow others to shop as well. Not for you to block me out.”
“Tough!”
“Listen, lady, I’m going to look at the steaks whether you move or not.” I proceeded then to put my hip into her cart and push. Whew. Not smart, but damn. She had my dander up.
That’s when she threatened to knock the shit out of me. Her exact words.
Now, I should explain here that I did take a step back, but at the same time I said, “Bring it, bitch.”
My brain was screaming at me to shut up. There’s no way I wanted to fight, and I have no idea what I’d have done if she had taken a swing at me. Thankfully I didn’t have to find out. She turned her back, allowed me to find my steaks, and then I went to the checkout counter.
I’m sure she’s telling somebody about the mean hippie chick who threatened her at the Publix today. I still can’t believe I let her get to me like that. The steaks would’ve been there if I’d walked away for five minutes and come back to shop at my leisure. I’m so not proud of myself.
To top it off, I ruined the good vibes I had going from my facial. Damn.
Peace!!!! People.
Praying for Eyebrowz 
Sounds like you comprehensively won to me ~ George
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I don’t know about that. I felt awful afterwards. Like a blooming hypocrite.
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My honey, I think you got one up on her. This is life. It gets in your face. I never go looking for trouble but boy if you get in my face I will take you down. Bottom line? Maybe she is off whining and all but part of her has to see you cannot go through life carrying on like she did just cos she’s big bruiser.
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The more I reflect on what happened the more I believe she was in search of a fight. I’m just glad she wasn’t carrying a gun!
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Well yeah. You live in a very different culture from us that way. She just sounds a bruiser, looking for it. A bully. Maybe she was having a bad day? Well, lady, we all have these. Just you enjoy your day today. Quickest way over this shit xxxxxxxx
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I had to go hone and meditate. 😂
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Well that says everything about you Leslie, that you do not go out looking for this kind of stuff xxxxx
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Sometimes you have to call out rude! She clearly was being a jerk in more ways than one so why do you feel you were wrong? You encountered a bully, full on and stood up to her, and clearly she was all talk in how quickly she “let” you get what you needed without further verbal abuse.
No one, peace loving hippie or anyone else deserves verbal abuse by a loser like that.
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She didn’t seem like the type of person I’d have a beer with.
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I know that as humans we should attempt to embrace the perspective of others because there is almost always something going on behind the scenes that causes someone to behave this way, but sometimes taking it is not the answer.
I suspect she doesn’t have many people who want to be around her, even if alcohol is involved.
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You could be right.
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Shoulda thrown a FROZEN steak at her head. 😉
Omg. 😂
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Hahaha!
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My friend I am proud of you for standing up for yourself. Some people just need to be checked. I would have probably slinked away and been upset all day. So, you are my hero.
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I didn’t feel very proud of myself!
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I hate it when something out of the ordinary and unpleasant can happen and ruin a perfectly good day. It is so hard to not let an experience like that get to you. She sounds like a bully and I am glad you found the nerve to stand up to her. Hopefully, as the day goes on, you can find some inner peace and get her out of your thoughts. She is still bullying you until you do and she has proven she is not worth that. ❤
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You’re absolutely right. Thanks.
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I will never get over how utterly, unrepentantly dickish some people choose to be. There is zero excuse for someone doing that kind of crap. I would have loved if you’d just started lobbing your fruit at her, but that would be wrong. Especially if you picked the bad ones first. Or the pineapple. Or, you know… smack her upside the head with one of your steaks. After you opened the package, of course.
Seriously, though, I’m all for standing up against bullies. At the same time, you never know when one of those bullies comes completely unhinged. I’m glad it didn’t turn into something much worse or truly ugly.
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When I think about what could have happened I get a little shaky. She definitely looked like the kind of woman who’d have a hand gun in her car.
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Really glad you are okay, if a little shaky.
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😊
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Why try to present that in a reasonable manner? She’s a disgusting slag, innit?
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Oh, but I shouldn’t have pushed her cart. It’s a wonder she didn’t draw a gun and shoot me.
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Now that second sentence makes sense
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Good for you. I run into people like that all the time – especially in Publix for some reason – and they count on people being too meek to call them out on their crap. She sounds like a bully and I’m glad you stood up to her!
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This was my first with someone like her in Publix. Hope it’ll be my last!
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I call this using your voice to promote spiritual awareness. 🙂 No, really, people need to know that we all share this planet. Possibly if others join you in calling out this selfish behavior (in as loving a manner as possible!) you all can help her live without the suffering she brings to herself and others. Hope the meditation helped. I’m sure it did.
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The meditation did help. I just hope it works as a preventative, as well! 😳
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I understand the arguments for not letting her get to you, but the truth is I’m glad you didn’t let her back you down.
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I think I am, too.
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Good. I do love happy ending.
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😂😂🤣 “non-food related call.”
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Lol! If she’d been asking what kind of steak they wanted for dinner I might not have gotten angry, but this was a “Hey! How’s granny’s dog,” or some such nonsense. 🤣
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Oh my… Glad you scared her and there were no shedding of blood. You seem to be in a good form thanks to vegetarian diet.
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I’m so glad there was no blood shed!
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She wasn’t that type, thankfully. If she were, you would get a different scenario. Don’t do that again. People get hurt for less.
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I know! Especially in my part of the world.
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Never try this in MY part of the world. Then you are done. But we all are reckless some times I guess.
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It was so unlike me to challenge someone.
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It is refreshing – I do it in my mind sometimes LOL
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Oh, same here! I can be such a shrew in my imagination.
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🙂
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