Stop smoking in the smoking section please – Stresser of the Day

There I was, sitting in the small courtyard at work, minding my own business and performing one of the most heinous habits of them all. No not digging for gold, picking my seat or picking at my potatoes. I was filling my lungs with the cancer causing chemicals of tar, nicotine and arsenic. Yes I know smoking is bad and that it is shortening my life. Please don’t say “Just quit smoking“, if you say that will find something that you use to take stress, anxiety and anger away and tell you to quit that, its only fair. I know I have to quit, it’s not that easy but soon i am going to have to stop smoking at work all together anyway, but that story is for another time.

This story is what happened today, when I was enjoying my time to relieve some work related stress. I was sitting in a company designated smoking area, signs were clearly visible. If you look around, near every bench, there is a gravel vertical ashtray to deposit your spent cancer sticks; some ignorantly think it is a trash receptacle as well. As i was sitting there, a young man and woman proceeded to sit down two benches away, took out their, what looked like their regurgitated breakfasts and started to eat. I proceed to take my usual inhaling of poison and exhale with ease and see the stress exiting my body. Then I heard the usual, attention getter… “cough, cough.” It wasn’t to loud but just loud enough for me to hear. Then it proceeded to get louder and louder, and being a parent I have developed a keen sense of super sonic hearing. Under their breath i heard them say,

Personal Space all used up in Checkout Line – Stresser of the Day

Since when did it become ok to violate someone’s personal space in the checkout lines in Department Stores? And since when did it become ok to spread your potentially volatile germs around to everyone around you?

This happens quiet often with me when I am in the check-out line at most any store. Today especially was nerve-racking. I was about to pay for my purchases at Target, when this mid-life crisis woman (about 50 years old) decided to not just get inside my personal space, but she basically hijacked it and raped it. She was standing right next to me, prohibiting me from swiping my card to pay. Not only that, but she insisted on hacking up what sounded like the rest of her rusty dusty lungs from years of smoking. I, kindly looked at her, asked her to move and she simply stood there like she finally kicked the bucket and turned to stone, not saying a word. So being the rude ass that I am, I gently side-stepped right into her pushing her aside with my body. Oddly enough she didn’t get the hint and attempted to invade my body once again by peering over my shoulder as I entered my card number (I changed my mind and used the visa part of my card). So with these actions I looked at her and in an assertive voice asked her if she would like my social security number and drivers license as well so she could steal my identity all together. The cashier as well as the two people behind this body-snatcher, busted out laughing.

Personal space is like a man cave for me, its mine all mine, don’t come into it unless invited and definitely don’t be polluting the air in my space with your infections.

Related articles

• Respect for Personal Space (waltyo56.wordpress.com)