Why didn't I just tell them to f*ck off??

 

NOTE: This is a copy-and-paste from a Facebook post I just made. The thing is, even though I know these two insufferable busybodies were being extremely rude, it left me feeling lousy, not about the unwanted public attention but because I didn't TELL them they had been inexcusably rude. It lingers like an ache somewhere that won't go away. The fact several others joined in the fun didn't help. I did not engage with them, which might have indicated I wasn't going to "go along with the joke" (if that's what it was), but they didn't twig, just kept on pointing and giggling.

So are Canadians still "polite"? Do they still apologize to the furniture if they bump into it? Today I had proof that not all of them do.

I was standing in line at the mall food fair, when I noticed two women in front of me (about my age), looking around at me and my bottom half. One of them came up to me and said, "I LOVE your pants!" I was wearing the kind of casual pull-ons you see everywhere now, but she kept at it, noticing the logo and saying (loudly) "Are those pajama bottoms?" (They weren't, but I was struck dumb by now). Both started giggling and literally pointing at the pants in question, like two junior high girls in the school washroom.

By then, others in the lineup began to "notice" my famous pants. They had become a sort of social focus in the food court. Then came the kicker - the other lady said, loudly, "SO, ARE YOU SLEEPWALKING?" I just said no, not engaging with them, then moved as far away from them as I could, wishing I could have said something about how rude they were. But I didn't.

Does that make ME a good Canadian, or just a chump who can't speak up for herself? Am I, as so many people claim, "too sensitive", and THAT'S the problem? As far as I am concerned, I am just sensitive enough.

It could be that the stereotype is eroding due to the stress of woeful world events. But added to feeling kind of humiliated in public, I also felt bad that I didn't say anything.

I should have. But I had it drilled into me all my life that I HAD to be polite to strangers. So I guess I turned out to be the "good Canadian", after all.

But if you're going to give a complete stranger a compliment, please mean it, and don't follow it up with public mockery. It just doesn't go down well, these days.

Crunchycat- the most merciless kibble chewer

No cat can come close to Bentley, but my favorite internet cat is Luna, cruncher of kibble. I've never heard a louder crackly crunch from a cat, with her little pink nose dimpling up from the effort. She also has glamorous eyes that look like she's wearing eyeliner, and a very soft, sweet meow. Her videos often receive more than a million views.

O Canada National Anthem

My absolute favorite version of our magnificent national anthem. I cannot get through it without tears (there's one rolling down my face right now). Now and forever, but especially now, my beloved country, we stand on guard for thee.

April is the cruellest month - except for this

I like to listen to this in April. It's old-fashioned rock, with a classical passage written by Jon Lord. They don't make rock bands like this any more.