man in grocery store (and a POLL at the end)
The moment I got home, I snapped this photo, so you can get visual context for the scenario that occurred today while I was grocery shopping. I had my sunglasses on my head, no make-up, a sweaty complexion from the July summer heat, a worn-out t-shirt purchased to support a school fundraiser, running shorts, and flip-flops. Altogether too young looking and completely unprofessional-- like a college student out for an afternoon run, who decided to stop by the grocery store for ramen noodles and Red Bull.
I was holding a hand-cart (bought less than 10 items), walking down an aisle, when at the end of an almost completely empty aisle (save the two of us), an old man was hobbling towards me. He had a few tufts of white hair left, his shoulders hunched over with age, his arms bent at the elbow but his wrists hung loosely without support (fingers reaching down to the floor). He had a checkered short-sleeve collared button-down shirt on, with khaki pants, and I noticed the shuffling feet. Shuffle shuffle shuffle. I then noticed he was trying to make eye contact with me, and when I did look at his face again, I returned his smile. (Brian always did say I was too friendly with strangers). When (as I was walking towards him from the other end of the aisle) I was about ten feet from him, he stopped walking, and gave the impression that he was waiting for me to approach to begin speaking.
I assumed: Oh, old guy is trying to find some grocery item and needs help.
I smile but before I can say "Can I help you?", he blurts out: "You would get anybody up."
It didn't seem like a conversational starter and it caught me off-guard, so I say "Excuse me?" He repeats it louder this time: "YOU WOULD GET ANYBODY UP." He smiles again, a content, sweet, comfortable smile.
As I stand puzzling out this phrase, he adds, matter-of-factly: "because of your figure." Again, the same gentlemanly grandpa smile. Out of obedience and sheer confusion in my brain, I politely say: "Oh. Thank you...." And he gives me a nod and continues shuffling down the aisle.
I didn't see him again in the store, and as I was still pondering "did that mean I make him smile? Is it because I smiled at him? Did he mean my brightly colored blue shirt?" I suddenly thought "oh God, was that a sexual connotation?" (Y'know, like get his wrinkly stick standing up?!" I wanted to scrub my brain!!) But he never said it in a lewd or bawdy manner, no "boob-to-crotch" X-ray eye examination, none of that.
Now I'll admit I'm pretty clueless about a lot of things. I mean, unless you come out and tell me something, I will pretty much take you for your word. Example from my past:
Boy: Damnit, Clare, I like you, okay?! I REALLY LIKE YOU!! wtf!
(Long pause as I piece things together in my head)
Clare: Is that why you've been buying me flowers and chocolates all month?
Boy: ....
Yeah, true story. It's embarassing.
So I pose this question to you, what do you think of the situation?
Poll Old men and their sayings
I was holding a hand-cart (bought less than 10 items), walking down an aisle, when at the end of an almost completely empty aisle (save the two of us), an old man was hobbling towards me. He had a few tufts of white hair left, his shoulders hunched over with age, his arms bent at the elbow but his wrists hung loosely without support (fingers reaching down to the floor). He had a checkered short-sleeve collared button-down shirt on, with khaki pants, and I noticed the shuffling feet. Shuffle shuffle shuffle. I then noticed he was trying to make eye contact with me, and when I did look at his face again, I returned his smile. (Brian always did say I was too friendly with strangers). When (as I was walking towards him from the other end of the aisle) I was about ten feet from him, he stopped walking, and gave the impression that he was waiting for me to approach to begin speaking.
I assumed: Oh, old guy is trying to find some grocery item and needs help.
I smile but before I can say "Can I help you?", he blurts out: "You would get anybody up."
It didn't seem like a conversational starter and it caught me off-guard, so I say "Excuse me?" He repeats it louder this time: "YOU WOULD GET ANYBODY UP." He smiles again, a content, sweet, comfortable smile.
As I stand puzzling out this phrase, he adds, matter-of-factly: "because of your figure." Again, the same gentlemanly grandpa smile. Out of obedience and sheer confusion in my brain, I politely say: "Oh. Thank you...." And he gives me a nod and continues shuffling down the aisle.
I didn't see him again in the store, and as I was still pondering "did that mean I make him smile? Is it because I smiled at him? Did he mean my brightly colored blue shirt?" I suddenly thought "oh God, was that a sexual connotation?" (Y'know, like get his wrinkly stick standing up?!" I wanted to scrub my brain!!) But he never said it in a lewd or bawdy manner, no "boob-to-crotch" X-ray eye examination, none of that.
Now I'll admit I'm pretty clueless about a lot of things. I mean, unless you come out and tell me something, I will pretty much take you for your word. Example from my past:
Boy: Damnit, Clare, I like you, okay?! I REALLY LIKE YOU!! wtf!
(Long pause as I piece things together in my head)
Clare: Is that why you've been buying me flowers and chocolates all month?
Boy: ....
Yeah, true story. It's embarassing.
So I pose this question to you, what do you think of the situation?
Poll Old men and their sayings