A Crappy Thanksgiving to You, Too

People can be downright rude. I just got back from Famous Hair where I wanted to get an eyebrow wax (pretty routine), and I was flat out turned away with no apology. Even though last time I got it done there, around 7:45, so I knew they'd be open, there was only one girl in the salon and when I walked in she said, "Can I HELP you?" and I, already seated and ready to indulge in a magazine while she finished a haircut, replied, "Oh, I just want an eyebrow wax." To which she said curtly, "I have nobody on right now who can do waxes." And went back to her scissors. No explanation, no indication of the next time someone who did waxes would be in, just angry energy. So I left. As I made my way to my car, I stopped to look back at the shopping center and see if there was possibly another place nearby, like a nail salon or something, that would be able to wax. I was studying the neon shop titles when a loud honk jarred me out of my contemplative trance. Apparently I was blocking an empty parking spot. I don't think I was standing there that long, and there are more polite ways to let me know I'm in the way other than blaring a loud noise in my ear. Since my car was right next to the spot in question, I just stepped sideways a little bit and started rummaging for my keys. A lady and her son got out of the car. He looked at me like a scared puppy, then she yanked him and stalked away.

I know tomorrow's Thanksgiving. The girl at the salon probably just wanted to get home and thought it rude of me to come in so close to closing (well, an hour and 45 minutes before), and the car horn lady probably had to grab something last-minute at Kroger and I was smack in the middle of a coveted spot close to the entrance. I know family's the priority for most people and when something or someone threatens to get in the way, it's natural to get a little bitchy. But it's amazing how long it took me to stop feeling disgruntled from those two back-to-back encounters. The bad energy seeped in and after a few minutes, I was still feeling agitated even though I had forgotten why. It makes me hesitate to go back to that hair place, even though the best eyebrow wax I think I've ever had was from there.

Now I know it's easy, since I want to make a point, to attribute all this rudeness to Atlanta being a big city. At least I'm aware of my bias. Still, I'm going to say it anyway--I don't think this would ever happen in Bowling Green. Let me just outline the town as best I can after my 2 day visit. First, there's some sort of rule that no chain restaurants can set up shop there. That means no Applebee's, Olive Garden, or Friday's with that blasted Guy Fieri. There's also a clock tower in the center of downtown which reminds me of the one at Cornell, one of the only things I loved there. And all the people I encountered, even the students, who, considering the size of BGSU and its emphasis on athletics, I might expect to reek with college cockiness, were so pleasant. Some people might say there's not enough to do there. But, there are more than 3 bars. That's already a head start on Williamsburg. Speaking of home, I really love the picture I took while I was there this weekend and I want to put it somewhere. So here you go.