Uncomfortable might be a mild word for this story, but I’ll roll with it.
Long ago, when I had four young kids, we used to take my van to a mechanic who had a garage basically in his back yard.
It was a one-man shop, and he was very good with cars.
I know we had him repair our cars for several years, because I remember going there pregnant and also not pregnant.
(Moms often mark memories based on pregnancies, I think. “Oh, that was 2003, because I remember I was pregnant with Sonia.”, for example.)
Anyway, I was there to pick up my van one time, and when I went in to pay (Mr. FG was with the kids), the mechanic gave me a look and said, “You know, there’s more than one way to pay for this.”
And given that he had also told me he wished I had come by myself, I knew he wasn’t just letting me know he accepted both credit cards and cash.
(!!!!)
I am never very quick on my feet in these types of situations, and I only managed to stammer out, “I’m frugal, but I’m not THAT frugal.”
I feel like my response is kind of hilarious, looking back. But I wish I would have said something a little firmer.
Anyway. I felt extremely uncomfortable.
And that was the last time we ever brought our cars to his shop.
That is horrifying!
I definitely felt horrified at the time. Like, dude! I’ve been here with my husband and children and somehow, you think I’m available like that?
And even if I was single and unattached, that’s still super disrespectful!
Yes, horrifying and scary!
Ewwww. That is so far beyond creepy.
In the same vein, though . . . I was a very innocent college freshman. Once I went to a party in a guy’s dorm room with my roommate and when I refused a shot or something, the dude whose room it was gave me the most inexpressibly lecherous look and said, “Now that’s what I need. A good girl.”
So, so gross. I have never forgotten the look on his face, and I am profoundly grateful I wasn’t drunk or otherwise vulnerable around that guy.
Blech.
What a jerk.
I am sure that if I had given him pushback, he would have said something like, “I was just joking!”
But a) that’s not a funny thing to joke about, ever and b) I am positive he would not have turned me down if I’d said yes. Ergo, not a joke.
I agree completely! How gross and uncomfortable to put you in that position.
Yes, what a jerk, and I bet every girl/woman has experienced this kind of thing many times. We get braver as we get older and coincidentally it happens less. At last book club we talked about this, related to the book we’d read, and every single member had a story.
I didn’t even think of those types of discomfort when I read your topic- often I answer in my mind if I can before reading on. Right now I feel uncomfortable because a friend is acting strange, mostly toward another friend, but in trying to talk about it, I wonder if her previous mental issues are flaring up, but not sure what to do except pray. That helps! And there’s another sort-of friend who is being very angry in general and I’m an easy target, it seems. Praying about that, too, but I feel less uncomfortable to learn that she’s acting like this with others as well. Somehow that’s comforting; though I would like to “solve” things, it’s not likely to happen right now in either of these situations.
My adult step-daughter is having a terrible time with her life struggles, too. That’s the most uncomfortable right now, but it’s chronic, on-going, and I KNOW it’s not personal and that I am powerless to do anything other than be here and loving as best I can.
OK- last! Much discomfort in situations which come up at work- I’m an RN. The most uncomfortable are the political and bureaucratic things that come up constantly, and the terrible time problems with getting tasks and paperwork done while trying to be an efficient and ethical professional while providing actual help and care to patients. Now I feel like I vented- whew! Deep breath!
Whaaaaaaaat!! *grossed out shudder*
I was uncomfortable yesterday afternoon… My two oldest kids and I went to an animal program at the library where they all kinds of cool animals to touch, but one was a snake. I expected there to be a snake, but my tummy felt squeamish and I was super uncomfortable when she first brought it out. I don’t want my kids to be afraid of snakes (I have a vivid memory of my mom screaming about one and freaking me out), so I worked hard to not react. I eventually settled down and was even able to put on a brave face and touch the snake.