In Taco Bell this afternoon
I was approached by some guy who sounded like Dr. Barber.
Not necessarily a bad thing, because I actually like Dr. Barber. Still.
I was grabbing some hot sauce packets, waiting for my order and he just came around and said something to me. I didn't quite hear it but I said "yes" anyway (isn't that the rule when you don't understand something? smile and say yes?). Then he said, "What company?" and that was when I got it sorted that he'd asked if I worked in the area because he'd seen me around-- I apologized and said I didn't (which is funny considering I am forever in t shirts and jeans, do I ever look like I'm working for anything?) , and then I picked up my order and the hot sauce packets and went back to my table. I could see him from the corner of my eye-- he just stared and stared, and it was almost like he wanted to say something else, but didn't know what. Then he left. I felt bad. Like, immediately after sitting back at my table. But if he didn't know what to say, neither did I.
It made me think of L, the first week we met, and how we walked the same path to the parking lot and never said anything to each other. Sometimes L would be ahead or I would be ahead, but mostly we were side by side just a few feet apart. And I'd look over wanting desperately to say something, or for L to say something, anything to bridge the gap, but never did. I think approaching a stranger is worse than a job interview. You haven't got a nice old resume/CV typed up with recommendations willing to say good things about you, and yet you're still putting yourself out there and asking to be judged and wanted in return. It sucks. And that person can turn around, go home later, and forever think of you as the "Taco Bell guy who sounds like Dr. Barber" or the "short weird Asian chick". Something like that, anyway.
Click to viewNot necessarily a bad thing, because I actually like Dr. Barber. Still.
I was grabbing some hot sauce packets, waiting for my order and he just came around and said something to me. I didn't quite hear it but I said "yes" anyway (isn't that the rule when you don't understand something? smile and say yes?). Then he said, "What company?" and that was when I got it sorted that he'd asked if I worked in the area because he'd seen me around-- I apologized and said I didn't (which is funny considering I am forever in t shirts and jeans, do I ever look like I'm working for anything?) , and then I picked up my order and the hot sauce packets and went back to my table. I could see him from the corner of my eye-- he just stared and stared, and it was almost like he wanted to say something else, but didn't know what. Then he left. I felt bad. Like, immediately after sitting back at my table. But if he didn't know what to say, neither did I.
It made me think of L, the first week we met, and how we walked the same path to the parking lot and never said anything to each other. Sometimes L would be ahead or I would be ahead, but mostly we were side by side just a few feet apart. And I'd look over wanting desperately to say something, or for L to say something, anything to bridge the gap, but never did. I think approaching a stranger is worse than a job interview. You haven't got a nice old resume/CV typed up with recommendations willing to say good things about you, and yet you're still putting yourself out there and asking to be judged and wanted in return. It sucks. And that person can turn around, go home later, and forever think of you as the "Taco Bell guy who sounds like Dr. Barber" or the "short weird Asian chick". Something like that, anyway.