took gigglemom to the ortho doc, then to A.C. Moore for her art supplies... that's when all holy hell broke loose.....
GM was sitting in her wheelchair (with her oxygen going at full force) in the decorative paint aisle... they didn't have the brand of paint she was looking for.
i was in the middle aisle perpendicular to hers when i heard what went down...
apparently, there was an AC Moore employee who walked behind her in the aisle and the person had a masculine physique and hair pulled into a clip so it was off the neck.
so, gigglemom needed assistance and she said "Excuse me, Sir?"
the employee - who was now in front with her back to her - then turned around (at this point i started down the aisle and could see them both)
the woman said "Why did you call me 'SIR'?" to GM.
GM then said "oh, sorry, i couldn't see because you had been behind me and your hair was short"
The woman then says snottily "So you're saying I look like a man!?" and started raising her voice
GM said "I couldn't see properly, I was wondering about the paint..."
The woman said "Why don't you ask a man? Just because my hair is short and you think I am a man"
I am now standing right behind the woman.
NOW... not for nothing I have had short hair for a good portion of my life and starting at the age of six, I've had to deal with the "excuse me, young man" crap -- but I got over it.
So this employee (who is in her late 40s, I'm guessing...) turns around as my mom is saying "It was an honest mistake..." and she, not knowing that I am with the elderly woman on oxygen in the wheelchair starts rolling her eyes to me about my mother... and mouthed "bitch" to me about her.
I then say "Since I have short hair, I get the "sir" thing all the time and then they see my boobs."
I say this jokingly to try to diffuse the situation.
Apparently this escalates the sitch.
The employee then screams "HOW DARE YOU!? I HAVE BREAST CANCER!"
what. the. fuck?
Gigglemom says "I don't need this bullshit, let's go, Erin" and I begin to wheel her out.
Stella (that's the employee's name) then gets on her walkie talkie trying to get the manager.
Then she runs outside to talk to the manager.
GM and I put the basket of supplies down and went outside... The manager stops us, then Stella stands BEHIND my mother. WTF? So GM explains HER side of the story.
STELLA starts making faces behind my mother.
I stare, nay, GLARE at Stella the Sensitive for a good minute and we locked eyes... until she looked away.
She then said "I am not a man and thanks for mocking my breast cancer!!!" then goes walking inside.
what. the. fark!?
the manager is still talking to GM... so i go inside and walk (actually chase) after "Stella" and say "No one ever mocked your breast cancer."
she then has tears rolling down her face and says "YOU don't know shit about what I'm going through!!" and walks away.
um... now I am very sensitive to the whole cancer/breast cancer thing... but don't go pulling the Cancer Card out just because a 70 year old woman with poor eyesight, on oxygen and sitting in a wheelchair with a colostomy bag (not that you can see that bag) says "Excuse me, Sir?" to your fucking BACK.
but I chased after her at this point... because I am pissed.
I said "You might have breast cancer, but, at least you're out here living and not stuck in a wheelchair, on oxygen, having shit pump into a bag on your stomach and have your daughter having to feed you and push you around. Instead of lashing out and feeling sorry for yourself, you might want to thank God that you're well enough to walk around while WORKING and that you do have a head of hair that you can pull into a bun and that you ARE breathing on your own. So stop your crying!"
then I walked back outside (past all of the customers staring) and collected my mother who the manager was talking with still --- finally about the damned brands of paints that they no longer carry.
Yes... I might have come off as heartless & insensitive, but, boo-fucking-hoo.
Welcome to the YapFest (10 yapped)
You know what some of the emotional causes of breast cancer are?
pent up anger...
Sounds like this woman had issues.
She should feel lucky to be alive.
and i feel for her... really, i do.
emotional results of taking care of gigglemom are:
released anger...
:}
Good on you for standing up for your mother! While what happened was certainly innocent on all parts I am guessing that this woman was feeling very insecure about herself and could only lash out at your mom instead of trying to be in her shoes as well because of her own personal emotional distress. I am thinking that what you did, will really make her think about what she did to your mom.
I would have done the same thing. Bitchy is bitchy, whether it's cancer-related or not. It sounds like your mother's illness has brought out her gracious side, while this woman's illness has brought out an ugly side. And, your mother's illness has brought out your protective side. Good for you!
puXYLK
Wow. Powerful stuff Erin.
Sometimes people just need to know they aren't the only ones suffering. Stella was obviously on edge and was itching deep down to instigate an opportunity to tell her story.
Nice that you stuck up so forcefully for your mom.
Paul
Giggle, I wholeheartedly feel......I couldnt get in my chair the other day, i had to crawl. They want to do hip replacement. i cant afford it. so more power to you that you are able to do and say. God bless you for having the strength to tell these people off.
Why does the cancer boy from thank you for smoking pop into my head after reading this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQhPS2jIHt0
Happens to me at least once a month with my peepers LOL
Best was when I knocked into a transvestite/transexual by the Christopher St. Station in the Village and was like "excuse me, sir", and he/she went batshit loco on me. Friends got quite the laugh out of that one.
Proud of you. Fuck Stelllllaaaaaaa.