Day 267
Hey you! Yeah, you the asshole in the minivan. Quit staring at the bald chick washing her front window.
This afternoon as I wiped down the window in my front screen door, my next door neighbor’s daughter and son-in-law pulled up in their minivan. As the son-in-law helped his daughter from her car seat he caught sight of me standing there wiping down the window. It was like he’d never seen a bald person before. The man stared at me from the curb until he reached his father-in-law’s front door.
I was wildly uncomfortable but I refused to scurry inside and hide myself away. I just couldn’t. I’m bald and I’m going to be bald for the rest of my life. That’s a fact and there’s no changing that. It is still hot and muggy here and it’s even hotter to clean with a scarf or wig on my head so I just go bald until after I take my shower. I’m uncomfortable with my appearance when my head is uncovered. I’m trying not to be, but if I’m to tell the truth here, I am. This asshole made me feel uncomfortable and unattractive and freakish in my own home and that hurts.
I’ve often said here that it’s the nice little things you do for someone that matter so much. Well, the same is to be said for the not-so-nice things. If you see someone who looks different than you don’t stare, that goes for bald cancer patients as well as mentally and physically disabled individuals. I have news for you, you are not perfect and there are plenty of reasons to stare at you as well. You have no right to make others feel uncomfortable especially not in their own homes. I’m not saying you should avert your eyes or look away but please don’t stare. It’s rude and makes you look like an asshole.
I wish if I were you I could do the old “Take a picture, it lasts longer” line, but when you know you were just doing your own thing in your own home ( & extra hard when you are neighbours to their family) and he just forgot to respect that he needs to see a line was crossed. They need to get some courtesy,or you should make it a point, don’t sacrifice your comfort for his.
SC, I really wanted to be bitchy but I just couldn’t seem to find the will. *shakes head*
When I was a little girl, I would stare at people who were different than me. My Mom would scold me, and I learned. As I got older I learned to not look down, and to look at someone directly in the eyes, otherwise they would think you were lying. When I approach a cancer patient, or disabled, any other human condition, I do not stare, because I know it hurts, and I feel your anger at the stupidity of this man. Thanks for sharing.
That’s because your mother taught you right. Thanks for reading and commenting Sandy!
you said have said “don’t worry, cancer isn’t contagious”
I find making the other person even more uncomfortable is most satisfying :)
Angel, I wish I’d have thought to say anything at all.