Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Tact

Today A and I were getting into the car, prepared to commence our morning errands, when My Lovely Russian Neighbor emerged from her house, kids in tow, ready to start her day as well. She had tried to call last night and I let it go to voicemail. Nevertheless, I summoned all my cool social niceness and said hello in what was intended to be a warm and friendly way.

Silly me.

She stopped to talk. OK. I made small talk for a few minutes until she said, "Oh wow! You still don't even look pregnant! You just look like you have a big bloated beer belly!!!"

And then she giggled.

And frankly, I couldn't help but laugh, too.

I mean -REALLY- either she's a total bitch or completely socially inept. Either way, there's nothing to do but shake my head and wish her a nice day as I drive away. As "compliments" go, that's certainly the worst I've yet experienced.

6 comments:

  1. All it takes is one pregnancy to realize that typically normal people are capable of rediculously rude comments and questions. Ive never seen another phenomena like it. Sorry your neighbor is such a dolt, youre beautiful!

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  2. When I was living in New Orleans I was involved with this Russian chick. I was not in a real relationship mind you. We just got together from time to time. Anyway, one of the things that made me not want to "know her better," was the fact that she said alot of inapproaite things. I think it's a culture thing. I think that some things we find offensive others may not.
    On the other hand you have people like me that say things I know will offend people and just dont care.
    Then there is one other group of people, they are like Michael from Office Space who go through life saying things that are truly offensive and uncool and have no idea that what they are saying might hurt someone.
    Maybe, I am more like Michael and that is why I can't keep a girlfriend?

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  3. I wonder how much of the bluntness is culture?

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  4. So why is it that *we* are always the ones required to summon our "niceness" when people like that have no fear of doing quite the opposite? I think of new family counseling topics every day ;).

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  5. for me, who is a foot putter in the mouther, i hope that my friends know my charicter and would give me the benifit of the doubt.

    i like your belly, its a perfect preggo belly.

    stay off the beer k?

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  6. for me, who is a foot putter in the mouther, i hope that my friends know my charicter and would give me the benifit of the doubt.

    i like your belly, its a perfect preggo belly.

    stay off the beer k?

    ReplyDelete