I was feeling pretty righteous about walking each day while on vacation in Florida last week until a bizarre incident happened that I’m still mulling over.
A total stranger insulted me for no reason other than she could.
See what you think:
As I walked up the beach, I approached a woman with a boy who looked to be about 11 or 12 years old.
The kid was playing in the surf. The woman, who appeared to be his grandmother judging by her gray hair, was keeping an eye on him. She was about 5 feet, 6 inches, with a solid, squat body, dressed as I was in shorts and shirt.
Since she was steadily watching me as I approached, I said hi.
She gave me the elevator eyes. (You know, that skimming of the eyes up, then down the body, and you can practically hear the bell ding as a conclusion is reached.)
“You out for a stroll?” she asked, emphasizing stroll in a mocking tone.
Surprised, I answered, “Actually, trying to lose weight.”
“Sure ’nuff!” she snorted, in this derisive voice that more than implied my answer was an understatement. (Think Wanda Sykes to Julia Louis-Dreyfus, or Florence talking to Weezie and George Jefferson. Now you’ve got the sarcasm.)
Not being a confrontational person — and I was pretty sure she could take me, too — I just kept walking.
“Did she just diss me?” I thought as I walked up the sand. “How could she? She doesn’t even know me! Maybe she didn’t mean it like it sounded,” I tried to rationalize.
But I knew she had. My emotions ran from surprise to hurt to anger.
I walked even farther that morning than usual because a) it was our last day there, b) I really wanted a weight loss Tuesday when I weighed in, and c) I was hoping she’d be gone when I returned.
Nope. Still there … and WAITING on me.
Hands on hips, she demanded, “How far’d you go?”
My first thought was to retort that it was none of her business. But more than a little curious what she’d say this time, I pointed out the spot way up the beach.
She squinted, considered that distance, gave a thoughtful nod and said, “You’re getting there.”
Who IS this woman?!
Now I’m glancing around to see if my beach buddies were hidden somewhere with a camera. This had to be a setup. But I could tell they weren’t feigning surprise when I told them about the encounter.
What would make someone feel they had the right to insult a total stranger? Did the fact she weighed less make her feel superior? Did her own insecurities prompt her to offend me because she’d never see me again?
Readers, have you ever had such an experience concerning your weight? If so, I’d like to hear how you handled it.
I felt somewhat vindicated when I weighed in Tuesday at Weight Watchers at Work. I’d lost nearly 3 pounds.
Sure ’nuff.