You know how you're walking into a building and you can sense someone behind you, and you think to yourself, is that person behind me close enough that I should hold the door open for them?
Because if you think the person sounds like they're just a few yards behind you, you should hold open the door so it doesn't slam in their face. But have you ever held the door open and then looked behind you and the person is like a block away?
And then you're in that awkward position where you're holding the door forever, and the person behind you has to jog, or at least look like they're making an effort to jog because you're sitting there waiting for them to come through the door you're holding open?
And then the person you're waiting for is an elderly person, who has sped up her shuffle walk now that she knows you're waiting, and everyone involved in the situation knows it would be better if you just went inside the stupid building instead of standing there making an old lady get the lead out of the walker, but you can't help but think you'll seem rude if it looks like you're giving up on her by slamming the door in her face (well it would be in her face if she weren't moving at mosey-speed)? And you would never want someone to think you're ageist?
And then five minutes later, after several other people have entered and exited the building, and the old lady (you've since named her Bertha, but only in your mind) has merely halved the distance, and did she just clutch her chest? And did you hear someone say, "Why does she hate old people?"
Yeah. That was my morning. Who's with me?
Anyone?
*self five*
I'm on a road trip today, so if it takes me a while to respond that's why. But I will be reading every comment!
"There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein." ~Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith
Never quite that far away, but yeah.
ReplyDeleteOh I am so with you in this one. In my job there is a lot of holding the door open, and I face the dilemma fairly often. My way to deal with it changes just as often too.
ReplyDeleteLOL! I don't think I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing this.
ReplyDeleteI'm usually the one jogging to the door. Sometimes, I like that the person is holding the door open for me. Other times, I'm thinking, "I just wanted to mosey up to the door and now I have to job so I don't feel like I'm making you wait forever. Just the door close, dang it!"
ReplyDeleteI haven't experienced this with an elderly person yet, but it's definitely happened.
ReplyDeleteAlso awkward: when you're walking toward someone you KNOW or RECOGNIZE, and there's that awkward moment where you think: Should I say hi? I'm too far away to say hi. Now I have to hold their gaze -- no, I'll just look away. I'm keeping my eyes --
"Oh, hello! Didn't see you there! Walking toward me. But here you are."
Oy.
Hee hee, this happens a lot to me, too! It's almost enough to make me just not look behind and hope grandma isn't on my heels ...
ReplyDeleteHahahaha! This is hilarious! And yes, I totally understand and I'll high-five you back.
ReplyDeleteYeah, been there. With poor old ladies, too...who begin to wheeze as they hurry up our church steps, staring at the crying baby on my hip who just doesn't want to stand still. So it looks like I hate old people AND babies. ;)
ReplyDeleteI feel this way about crossing the street as a pedestrian. I get annoyed when cars stop and wait for me while I'm still far away and also I'm waiting for my 2- year-old to catch up and if they had just gone, they could have been on their merry way by this point, but instead they're glaring at me for taking so long.
ReplyDeleteAdd to this the fact that the person you are holding the door for is male, who hurry up to come through the door you have been holding for them, only to try to then hold the door for you to go through so they can be chivalrous.
ReplyDeleteAlso awkward is walking to a door with a male colleague, but a little ahead, and then trying to decide if I should open my own door, or wait to see if they want to, but what if their hands are full and they are still trying to get the door.
I've done that so many times I now just try to avoid the whole thing by pressing the button with the person in the wheelchair on it(know what I'm talking about?) that opens the door automatically. Then I don't feel like I'm obligated to hold the dumb door open for anyone-- and if it closes in someone's face, I'm already far enough away that I can pretend I had nothing to do with it!
ReplyDeleteCame here via Shelly's blog, and this post alone is enough to make me hit the follow button :-)
ReplyDeleteOy. I do this frequently. I'm glad I'm not the only one!
ReplyDeleteThe other favorite of mine is the chivalrous person trying to hold open the door while I push in my massive stroller. They're sweet and all, but I usually take them out at the ankle then run them over on the way in. And just for good measure (so they don't report me to mall security) I run them over an extra two or three times so that the amnesia will cause them to forget that they ever tried to be nice to the crazy lady with the stroller.
Looks like we need to do a post on awkward social situations. :)
ReplyDeleteI really wish I was you!!!! Dead serious!
ReplyDelete