It's Not Me, It's Them ...

Before we get started today, my good friend Matt-Man's brother John passed away today. I just wanted to send out my condolences to Matt and his family.

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So the other day I needed a couple of things, and by “things” I mean Pepsi, Nacho Cheese Doritos and some food safe latex gloves. So, of course I headed to the Dollar General Store. They had six pack cans of Pepsi for only $1.25. Seriously, they're pushers.

Anyway, I get there and park and get out of my vehicle and am heading into the store at the same time as some lady. Being the gentleman that I am, I waited for her and then opened the door and held it for her. Without looking at me or smiling or anything, she said “Thanks” and then headed into the store. As she was going in you know what she did?

She reached out and pushed the door open a bit. So, I'm holding the door for her, and she feels the need to put her hand on the door and hold it open for herself also. As if she thinks I'm gonna let go and let the door close on her and knock her down or something.

So, I'm standing there, holding the door and I'm thinking to myself WTH? (I speak to myself in internet abbreviations LOL!) I'm thinking that I'm not really a scary guy. Or don't look like the kind of guy who would do something like that. I don't lack manners. I'm not gruff and short with people. So why doesn't she trust me to hold the door open?

Then I think maybe it's not me. Maybe it's her. Maybe when she was a kid, someone else, maybe even a guy who looks similar to me, let go of a door and it hit her and hurt her. Maybe it was a traumatic experience. You know, maybe the door knocked her down and all the other kids pointed and laughed. And my her mother pointed and laughed too. And then maybe her dad yelled at her to get up and stop embarrassing the family. And now, all these years later, she just can't trust anyone holding the door open for her.

Whatever. I go into the store, get my Pepsi and Doritos (they were out of the gloves) and pay for them and leave. But, as I'm leaving I see an much older lady walking towards the door. Ah! A chance for humanity to redeem itself and I can restore my believe that people don't automatically think that I'm an a-hole.

I go out the door and then turn around and hold the door for the old lay. I smile at her and nod as she says “Why thank you” and then you know what she does?

SHE PUTS HER HAND ON THE DOOR AND HOLDS IT OPEN AS IF I'M GONNA LET GO OF IT!

Seriously, this is ridiculous.

Okay, couple of day later I was in Dollar Tree, because Dollar General was just too fancy a place for me. And, as I was leaving, right behind me was another older lady getting her stuff out of her shopping cart. I figured I had another chance to test things out again.

I go out the door and stop and hold the door open for her. She doesn't reach up and hold the door at all! She even smiles at me and says “Thank you so much! You know, not too many people have manners these days.”

I said “You're welcome” and then looked back to make sure I wasn't shutting the door on anyone. And I noticed that this lady who just told me that people don't have any manners these days, had left her cart right in front of the door and nobody could get out of the store without moving it and probably putting back where it belongs for her.

I look at that and kind of laughed to myself and said “Yeah, it's not me. It's everyone else.”