Stepping into my usual international coffee chain here in my internationally cosmopolitan city I was in a great mood. It was 8:00 am, the sun was shining…(unusual for where I live) and I was just given yesterday’s newspaper for free. I wanted to grab my needed caffeine before I start my long shift.
Again… It’s 8:00 am.
I work in the Emergency Department of an inner city hospital and my coffee shop is just across the street and my coffee is greatly needed.
So the sun is really shining, I’m happy, it’s Saturday and I’m getting premium pay for my extra shift. Perhaps I should have stayed home though.
I am an easy-going super laid-back person. Humility and humbleness are traits I actively work on. In other words, I mind my own damn business and stay out of people’s way.
In general, I’m just happy. I often write articles focused on making the best out of the small things. Simplicity is one of my favourite words.
So fast-forward to when I was waiting in line to order my greatly needed coffee and wearing a mask. As hospital employees from just across the street, we are expected to wear a mask at this coffee shop. Even though I was in street clothes.
Mask wearing is expected of me. I don’t like wearing masks. I’m not fond of them and I pretty much hate masks like everyone else in the world.
I didn’t judge or give a second thought to everyone else not wearing a mask. I really don’t care… The mandate has been lifted, and I agree… we can’t wear masks every second of every day. And many times I don’t wear one in stores and coffee shops. In other words, I was going about the start of my day, minding my own business.
From behind me, I could hear a man mocking me and laughing for wearing this stupid mask that I’m expected to wear as a healthcare worker from across the street.
Did I hear right? Is he referring to me? Quick look around and yep… he’s referring to me, the dork in street clothes apparently pissing him off by wearing a mask.
Okay, it’s 8:00 am. I haven’t had my caffeine yet. Come on…
His exact words, “You know if masks worked… there’d be no covid.”
So… I made a fateful error in engaging with this busy-body pain-in-the-ass bully and he further antagonized me. Then he sat there staring at me with this maniacal smile on his face.
He was enjoying this.
I don’t do well with men who are bullies. Call it what you will but I can’t do it.
I snapped.
Yes, I snapped, I lost my sh*t in the middle of the coffee shop much to his amusement. I told him he must be a psychopath to enjoy upsetting someone at 8:00 am on a Saturday morning before they had their coffee. And I told him he was a psychopath to deliberately ruin someone’s day.
I sort of said this loudly.
His further laughing triggered me even more. I gave him exactly what he wanted. I was feeding this in-person troll. The ogre was sitting there smiling at me like Jack Nicholson in the Shining.
I had an urge to accidentally bump him so he would spill his coffee all over his bully-troll self. I’m sure glad I regained some form of common sense. All I need is a charge of harassment. I could see the headlines now:
“Healthcare Worker Throws Hot Coffee at Man for Not Wearing Mask in Coffee Shop”.
“Healthcare Workers’ Union Blames Staff Shortages for Hot Coffee Assault”
“Alien Possesses Healthcare Worker Who Attacks Non-Wearing Mask Individuals in Coffee Shops”
Seriously, what is this world coming to? In all honesty, maniacal Jack made me cry. He ruined my sunny Saturday. And I made a crazy fool out of myself.
He won. And a young guy at the end of the line won as well when he said ‘hey lady take it down a notch.’
Not necessarily the best thing to say to someone who is clearly losing their sh*t.
So what do we do when someone tells us to relax? Yep, I let him have it too.
Not sure why a young man in his twenties can even use the term “hey lady” to address anyone. Was he raised in a zoo?
Was I somehow transcended into the twilight zone? Was I wearing a ‘kick-me-sign’? Might I add… I’m a 50-year-old woman.
I appreciate men, I’ve raised a wonderful one who has never uttered those words ‘hey lady’ to anyone. My ex-husband, for the most part, is also a wonderful man who loves his children. And I have another incredibly amazing man in my life.
This isn’t a man-hating post. Far from it. I really love men! This is a post about how horrible society can be when they’re pushed to the max as we all have been.
I always say, misery loves company and Mr. Bully Jack Troll found great company in me!
Oh well, c’est la vie. ❤
Any super embarrassing moments you feel like sharing? Does anyone else lose their sh*t and second guess themselves all day long?
Share the wealth…
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This post was previously published on ILLUMINATION.
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You may also like these posts on The Good Men Project:
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 Escape the “Act Like a Man” Box |
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