Friday, August 25, 2006

Learning

My ankle/leg/foot has been hurting a lot over the last couple of days and since part of the pain is the bone tired weariness that you feel after a long day shoveling gravel in the sun (yes. I have done it so I know exactly how this feels) I know that I have been overdoing it. Vased ont he fact that the pain moves around, I am coming to accept that although I do not have the excruciating pain that I expected out of the injury, I am hurt worse than I have wanted to admit. This, sadly, means I won't be back in my skates for maybe even a month. Little tiny baby steps...

However, one thing I noticed while I was out and about yesterday, was the lack of parking spots near to the stores I needed to go to. I do not have a handicapped plaquard. I realized that once I am better, I should make a point of parking further away, not just for the exercize, but to allow those who need them more to park in the closer spots. Not everyone who has a disability has a plaquard, and I should take advantage of being able when I am able.

School has begun, and that means the fundraising has begun. One popular fundraiser in my area are discount cards that you can presumably use at various drive through locations. without getting into the fact that I don't generally eat fast food, I don't end up using those cards. I forget them, I'm embarassed, whatever. So when I was approached yesterday, I first told the boys I didn't have any cash (this was after I tried to avoid eye contact) which was true. In my face, the young man told me that they could take a check. I explained that I did not use the cards, That I still had one leftover from last year from my brother. I probably should not have bantered with them, but as I walked away, I heard one of them call me a bitch. Now he wasn't just agressive, he was rude. Without looking back, I called, "I heard that" and continued on my way into the store. He wouldn't look at me when I came out.
Call me old, but I am old enough to be this boy's mother. (gasp!!) the level of disrespect I got from him from the get go was unnerving. He, and his friends (save one who I had a nice conversation with as I walked out) treated me like I was a contemporary. Even if I were a contemporary, I don't think I should have been approached that way! Whatever happened to respecting your elders?

6 comments:

Rich | Championable said...

Two different topics, and I relate to both. I have to be REALLY careful with my left shin/ankle, or I could be out of marathon contention.

And yes, sister: kids should damn well respect their elders. Drives me nuts.

Rock on.

Chickie said...

What a little punk-ass-bitch!

Chickie said...

I am speaking about the cursing child, of course.

NWJR said...

Ugh.

I don't think it's just a matter of respecting your elders, it's a matter of respect, period.

Personally, I would have contacted whomever is heading up the fundraising for that particular organization, and relayed my experience. That's simply unacceptable in ANY circumstance, and should be dealt with properly.

There's my 2 cents...

Sensei said...

I've shovelled gravel, as well. First, as a teen, we traded a stay at a cabin in Wisconsin for shovelling gravel for the roads to the cabin. Second, when in basic training, when we were not training, we were shovelling, hauling, and spreading gravel for new sidewalks that the next group of recruits were going to break up, so the recruits after them could haul gravel to make sidewalks.

Respecting elders is biblical. See what happens when you take the Bible out of the schools? Yes, you and I graduated after the Bible was removed, but the residuals were still there. This is a new generation where the residuals are the previous generations rap songs echoing through the halls.

Ginamonster said...

I don't think respect is only a biblical thing, I think it's something taught by parents, whether they are teaching children from the bible or not. I REALLY don't think the bible belongs inschool unless it is the library copy OR taught as literature, in which case, of course it should be in schools!!