Good grief. You would think I would be past the age where I have this sort of nonsense going on! All my life, everywhere I went, I have had people staring at me, and for the most part, I have gotten used to it,but there comes a time in a persons life when enough is enough. Yes,well, the staring goes on, but I thought the scenario where a guy zero's in on me, smiling from ear to ear,and comes over, and starts chatting with me would have come to an end. Surely, I thought, when I began having to use a wheelchair and my son to take me places, that would be the turning point where this sort of thing would no longer happen, but far from being a deterrent, they then found a willing chatter with my son, and he being the happy, outgoing, fun fellow he is, not only engaged them in conversation, but would introduce himself,and even try to introduce me to them! Frequently, however, we would be in line at the bank, or at the check-out counter at the grocery store, and I could insist that we hurry along to get things done,and leave this stranger in the dust. Then, once we were away from him, I would instruct him, in no uncertain terms NOT to encourage total strangers in their attempts to make my acquaintance. It took me years to make him understand that a lady must be careful who she takes up with,and that for my own personal safety, I prefer to be introduced by a mutual friend than to allow myself to be "picked-up" in public places. Being a young man, Yon son had a hard time understanding this, and being also the type of person that, if you push the right button, his whole life is an open book, made it doubly hard to persuade him that just because he has traded pleasantries, names and a handshake with a fella, does not then qualify him as a mutual acquaintance! But now, having worked with the public a few years,and having been married twice, and knowing that not all persons walking the streets are trustworthy, it has been a long time since I have had any problem in that department, until this week. In my Doctor's office, there is a strange set up, where once you get called back to be seen, you don't go back through that door until the doctor has set you up with the nurses/receptionist's station, they make calls for referrals, tests, and appointments, and you can find yourself in this little tiny area for several minutes, with two or more people waiting to be taken care of. I had seen the Doctor, and he accompanied us out to the desk, and left his instructions, and there we waited to have arrangements made,and meanwhile, here comes the Doctor again, with yet another patient. This guy didn't make a sound until all of a sudden, he is just talking up a storm with all and sundry,and with a side-long glance, I see he is smiling at me. Oh, Lord,I am thinking, no, no, no. Don't let Yon son bite on this one, please. But, he does. Not only does he start talking to this fellow, but sure enough, before it's over, he's doing the manly thing, giving his name, and shaking his hand,but then he goes on to tell him where he works,and is just about to turn around,looks at me, and something stopped him from going further,and the man says, and this is your mother? And Yon says, yes, and then the blabbermouth nurse says, my name,and offers me my next appointment card. No, she didn't just say my name, she says it nice and loud and clear! This guy now has all the information he needs to track me down! I snatched the card from her helpful little hand,and say "Thank you ! Goodbye!" And Yon son does the honorable thing, bless his little pointy head, and says good bye to them,and to him, and he pushes me out the door,which is being held open by another nurse just coming in.
"There now," Yon chirps as he hustles down the wide hallway with me," That wasn't so bad, was it?" And I am going "Grrr!"
And so, I wait. Just by the smiles and the vibes,and the way he kept trying to make eye contact with me, tells me that unless he goes into the hospital for his test,and things don't go well, and he has a longer, more involved stay than just overnight, I shall in all probability be hearing from this man. Not that I wish him any ill. I don't. But, neither do I want to be an object of his quest...looked up, chatted up,and put upon by a bombardment of phone calls, or worse, notes brought home by Yon son, wishing to correspond with me. I don't know him,and judging by the evil gleam in his eye,and his wiggling eyebrows, don't want to know him. He strikes me as the type of man who will presume too much, upon too little acquaintance. (Sigh) I am not as young and strong as I used to be, when I found it no problem to elude "gentlemen" in whom I have no interest,and of whom I have no knowledge, and therefore, no confidence in being in their company. It is a strain just going to see the Doctor. Just how on earth would I be likely to get to know a person with whom I would have to meet in public several times before I would feel comfortable inviting to my home?
It is out of the question. Absolutely out of the question. Unless, of course, he has a computer,and we can correspond that way, I just don't see it happening. After all, a lady cannot be too careful. And first, foremost, and always, I am a lady. A lady who has no desire to be caught in an awkward,uncomfortable, or even dangerous position. One does that, by avoiding obviously sticky situations. On the other hand,neither do I want to hurt someone's feelings. That is why I really am hoping that this man does not try to contact me. I realize that it takes a lot of courage to pursue someone, and I would dislike intensely to make him feel as though there was something wrong with his looks or behavior to make me reject him. And yet, if he contacts me, I shall be forced to do so. This is preying on my mind, because he won't understand, given the forward way most women are now, why I can not possibly allow even the most lukewarm of friendships to come to be. It's just too bad, that's all. It's a shame that, times being what they are, you just can't trust people,throw caution to the winds and invite them over for dinner and bible study as though you've known them all your life. Men can do that, but ladies just can't. Not if they have a brain in their head,and value their lives.
So, I shall do what I always do when faced with such a dilema. I'll take it to the Lord in prayer,and he will take care of it for me.
OUI?
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