My husband and I went with another couple to a bull riding contest on Sunday. That’s a story unto itself. I was relieved to learn that the owners and cowboys treat these bulls much like I treat my show horse-their care, safety and comfort is paramount. But I digress.
I found myself seated behind a very large man wearing a Stetson. The hat didn’t matter. I could still see everything. The problem arose about mid-way through the competition when the man with the Stetson stood up and remained standing. Luckily, I could see around him, but he blocked the rest of the activity for my companions seated to my left.
My girlfriend who was positioned two seats to my left called out to him. “Excuse me, sir, but would you mind sitting down? We can’t see the competition.”
He turned to her and said, “I have a sore leg and need to stretch it.” Then, he turned back to the show and remained standing.
Again, my girlfriend called out to him. “Well, would you mind standing in the aisle to the left next to the railing so that we can see the show?”
He turned to her again and gave her an “I-will-kill-you-with-my-stare” glare. His response? “I don’t want to disturb all these nice people in my row.” Was he implying we weren’t nice people? Then he turned back to the competition.
My husband Mark, who was seated to my right looked at my girlfriend and yelled, “There’s one in every crowd!” That got the man in the hat’s attention, and he turned to give Mark a withering “drop-dead” look. Mark smiled up at him.
After another five minutes or so had passed, the man in the hat sat back down. But we noticed with interest at the end of the show that his leg seemed to be fine as he hopped over the seats and scampered down the aisle to get the winner of the competition to sign his hat!
I wanted to share this example to underscore the self-absorption and lack of respect that people often have for each other. It would be a kinder, gentler place if we stopped to think about others instead of always making ourselves numero uno, don’t you think?
So next time you’re at an event, avoid being the bully who is always in every crowd!
Til next time,
Carol
I found myself seated behind a very large man wearing a Stetson. The hat didn’t matter. I could still see everything. The problem arose about mid-way through the competition when the man with the Stetson stood up and remained standing. Luckily, I could see around him, but he blocked the rest of the activity for my companions seated to my left.
My girlfriend who was positioned two seats to my left called out to him. “Excuse me, sir, but would you mind sitting down? We can’t see the competition.”
He turned to her and said, “I have a sore leg and need to stretch it.” Then, he turned back to the show and remained standing.
Again, my girlfriend called out to him. “Well, would you mind standing in the aisle to the left next to the railing so that we can see the show?”
He turned to her again and gave her an “I-will-kill-you-with-my-stare” glare. His response? “I don’t want to disturb all these nice people in my row.” Was he implying we weren’t nice people? Then he turned back to the competition.
My husband Mark, who was seated to my right looked at my girlfriend and yelled, “There’s one in every crowd!” That got the man in the hat’s attention, and he turned to give Mark a withering “drop-dead” look. Mark smiled up at him.
After another five minutes or so had passed, the man in the hat sat back down. But we noticed with interest at the end of the show that his leg seemed to be fine as he hopped over the seats and scampered down the aisle to get the winner of the competition to sign his hat!
I wanted to share this example to underscore the self-absorption and lack of respect that people often have for each other. It would be a kinder, gentler place if we stopped to think about others instead of always making ourselves numero uno, don’t you think?
So next time you’re at an event, avoid being the bully who is always in every crowd!
Til next time,
Carol
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