It was one of those situations that was funny to everyone else but me. Oh I see the humour in it but at the moment it happened and immediately afterward, I wasn’t laughing. In fact, it’s such a touchy subject that I have waffled for several days about whether to even blog about it. But here goes:
The scene: A department store.
The characters: Me, Derek and a very old woman. (I’d guess mid-80’s or older)
The situation: We are ahead of the woman in line. Among our items on the belt is a folded and plastic-wrapped expandable clothes-drying rack.
OLD LADY: Oh, is that for the baby, a playpen?
DEREK: No that’s one of those folding clothes racks you set up to dry your clothes on.
ME: (turning to observe the conversation and smile sweetly)
OLD LADY: (muffled words) I just thought it was something for the baby.
ME: The only baby we’ve got is a fern!
OLD LADY SMILING WIDELY: Oh, you already know it’s a “her”?
At that point we were “up” and I turned my attention to the cashier.
Later, I asked Derek about the muffled words I couldn’t understand and they were: “Because you’re pregnant…” Yes, the woman had said, “Because you’re pregnant, I just thought it was something for the baby.” I was STUNNED. I’m no Olive Oyl but I do not, in any way shape or form, look pregnant. Once in a while I might have a “food baby” after a big meal but, please. “Your shirt was puckered”, said Derek, as he tried and failed to hold back peals of laughter.
So. Rude. As humorist Dave Barry once wrote, you should never, ever suggest that a woman is pregnant unless you actually see a baby coming out of her! I have shared this story with a few women, big women, small women, regular women – and each and every one has admitted to being mistaken for being pregnant at some time by some idiot with a faster mouth than a brain. A friend who had a baby a few months ago was just asked the other day when the baby was due. And she thought up until that moment that she was winning the war against the baby weight gain.
I think it’s a generational thing to just assume that everyone is procreating and maybe at one time it was okay to ask a perfect stranger about her reproductive plans and to remark that her belly looked to be with child. But that time is long gone. Still, even though I think that woman was a thoughtless boor I am probably never again going to wear the generous shirt and loose-fitting leggings I had on that day. Thanks a lot, lady!
(I won’t laugh! I won’t laugh! I won’t laugh!)
Aw go ahead. Laugh at my pain! 😉 AGAIN!
been there….wore that shirt too! lol Thanks for a smile this morning Lisa. Remember, if she was mid 80s her vision can’t be very good.
I was wondering how or if I would comment on todays Blog item. Recalling many things you’ve disclosed over the years and this years health issues, I can see how a comment like this would/could hit a sensitive or touchy spot. Unfortunately an innocent comment or observation can be often hurtful depending on how it is received.
Can I see the humor in this situation, yes, but also the innocence in it all. Cut yourself some slack.
I have slack! I have a lot of slack. The weight of this matter (pun intended) rests squarely on the rude woman! And according to some of my friends, there are a lot of rude people out there.
People think because it was an elderly person saying such a thing that we should let it slide. Maybe as people get older, the part of the brain that censors ‘blurted out’ comments stops working… who knows.
I think almost every woman has experienced that, and it’s just a wee bit hurtful, even if it was meant innocently.
hahahaha, Lisa, picture Snoopy in one of those Charlie Brown shows, rolling on the ground laughing, that’s me right now. Mind you I’m laughing with you, not at you!!!
Figures! Derek, Kevin, you… all laughing their butts off. I expected as much! 🙂