I hate everything about the mall. The greasy food court is buttered with hungry strangers who make picking a table feel like I’m back in high school. Down this long stretch of consumerism hell I burn through cash, my wallet screams for mercy like a Jeffrey Dahmer victim. But most of all I just hate all the people. I’m just not a people person, I’d rather be out in the woods then downtown. So you’re probably thinking just stay away from the mall Gunner. Which is actually what I do normally, but I needed shoes that’d keep socks dry and feet happy, so last Friday I ventured out to Northgate mall.
Upon arrival I parked my car and immediately realized the “Big Gulp”, I’d drained was a bigger mistake then Napoleon attacking Russia. Crashing through the door I almost ran to the bathroom hoping I wouldn’t wet myself. Running now (bathrooms are also too few and dirty in malls), I turned the last corner and as I burnt the rubber on my soon to be replaced sneaks I passed a man in his wheelchair and reached my destination. Upon entering I realized the one urinal was occupied so I turned and checked the one stall which was also occupied! About to cry from holding it so long I rejoice when the man at the urinal finishes business and step forward ready for action behind me I hear a snarl. “Fucking asshole I was waiting for that”, man in wheelchair man cries out. I feel bad even though I was clearly there first and reply, “Oh I’m sorry man my bad.” “Arrogant fucking little punks is what you are!” he barks as I put my friend away and turn around. “What? I think you’re going to be ok buddy.” I reply honestly shocked. “Everybody in Seattle is so nice, is what they all said, what a load of shit you’re just a bunch of punks.” As he finishes his insult on my favorite city in the world, he stands to his feet and takes his place at the urinal. What the fuck was this guy’s problem? He had the audacity to judge a whole group of people (Seattleites), because he had to wait forty extra seconds to use the bathroom. I apologized again and exited. A moment later the man came walking out pushing the chair in front of him. Was the chair even a necessity or a right of privilege to this gentleman? The whole situation left me sick to my stomach (what he’d said about Seattle) and angry (was his chair use legitimate or comparable to when a really fat person gets a handicapped parking space instead of walking across the lot like they should and need to). I ending up getting some kick ass sneaks but the most meaningful thing with me when I left the mall was my experience with that man.
I guess what I’m trying to say is when you do something people not only judge you yourself personally for it but plenty of others as well. That man took offense to my “rudeness”, and will probably view Seattle as the asshole capital of the world all the way until his death. Should he or is he correct? Not really, but that’s how we judge things, from experience. And should I view people in wheelchairs as cranky, bitter, folks who might as well not even need the chair’s assistance but wield it anyways? Not at all even though the little devil on my shoulder thinks it’s believable (he’s not too bright he also wanted me to punch the man). So use your manners, be respectful, treat others how you’d like to be treated, as well as slow down and view the situation not the person (or their skin color, gender, ability, and so forth).
Upon arrival I parked my car and immediately realized the “Big Gulp”, I’d drained was a bigger mistake then Napoleon attacking Russia. Crashing through the door I almost ran to the bathroom hoping I wouldn’t wet myself. Running now (bathrooms are also too few and dirty in malls), I turned the last corner and as I burnt the rubber on my soon to be replaced sneaks I passed a man in his wheelchair and reached my destination. Upon entering I realized the one urinal was occupied so I turned and checked the one stall which was also occupied! About to cry from holding it so long I rejoice when the man at the urinal finishes business and step forward ready for action behind me I hear a snarl. “Fucking asshole I was waiting for that”, man in wheelchair man cries out. I feel bad even though I was clearly there first and reply, “Oh I’m sorry man my bad.” “Arrogant fucking little punks is what you are!” he barks as I put my friend away and turn around. “What? I think you’re going to be ok buddy.” I reply honestly shocked. “Everybody in Seattle is so nice, is what they all said, what a load of shit you’re just a bunch of punks.” As he finishes his insult on my favorite city in the world, he stands to his feet and takes his place at the urinal. What the fuck was this guy’s problem? He had the audacity to judge a whole group of people (Seattleites), because he had to wait forty extra seconds to use the bathroom. I apologized again and exited. A moment later the man came walking out pushing the chair in front of him. Was the chair even a necessity or a right of privilege to this gentleman? The whole situation left me sick to my stomach (what he’d said about Seattle) and angry (was his chair use legitimate or comparable to when a really fat person gets a handicapped parking space instead of walking across the lot like they should and need to). I ending up getting some kick ass sneaks but the most meaningful thing with me when I left the mall was my experience with that man.
I guess what I’m trying to say is when you do something people not only judge you yourself personally for it but plenty of others as well. That man took offense to my “rudeness”, and will probably view Seattle as the asshole capital of the world all the way until his death. Should he or is he correct? Not really, but that’s how we judge things, from experience. And should I view people in wheelchairs as cranky, bitter, folks who might as well not even need the chair’s assistance but wield it anyways? Not at all even though the little devil on my shoulder thinks it’s believable (he’s not too bright he also wanted me to punch the man). So use your manners, be respectful, treat others how you’d like to be treated, as well as slow down and view the situation not the person (or their skin color, gender, ability, and so forth).
http://www.homecarespecialistsinc.com/ was where I got my picture
