RAWR!!

[theatokos]

So angry!! AGAIN! Only this time some bitter lady threatened (in so many words) my family and I just fucking lost it. I am not an angry person and I don't yell much, but I was like a woman possessed. Holy lord, do not even mildly hint at harming my family. I am not a nice lady.

What happened was this: We rented a car for the weekend because we have a lot of running around to do. We live on a busy 4 lane street and our building has four single garages on the ground floor, but no driveways, so if you want to load or unload you have to pull in front of the garages. At noon today Adam got the car and pulled in front of the garages to install the car seat base. Just as he started trying one of the people that rents a garage pulled up and told Adam to move. It's her garage, she said. So Adam pulled out and went around the block. Benn, in his carseat, and I stood on the sidewalk. The woman pulled in front of the building but didn't go inside the garage. "I'm just going in for five minutes," she said. "We were just going to be a couple of minutes," I replied. "I PAY for that space," she retorts.

What I should have said was "Last I heard you only rent the garage, not the street or sidewalk."

Adam pulled around and was now in a lane of traffic with the flashers on. Back to installing the carbase. I had Benn on the ground, behind the lady's car, about to go into the car and she came out and walked past me saying "You'd better move. I'd hate for my car to burp on your baby." (Benn was near her exhaust pipe.) So I grab Benn and go back to sidewalk. She got in her car and yelled out the window to Adam, who had the passenger door open to put Benn in, "Do you want that door?"

That is when I lost it. All of this seems so tame and stupid in writing. But her tone from the very beginning was one of bitterness and entitlement, which are really two faces of the same vice. She didn't need to back up! There was plenty of space to just pull in to the road and leave us to finish. Why threaten to back in to the car and my husband?! I rushed to her open window and just started yelling at her. Of course, that is the least productive thing to do with people like this because she just started yelling over the top of me. Yelling about how she pays for that space (but she was blocking the second garage opening too, so I don't see her logic). Finally she pulled out and left, but I was left upset and shaking.

I coulda just punched her in the face.

Before Benn that lady would have made me angry and annoyed, but holy hormones. I seriously don't know what came over me.

Why, o why, are people so awful sometimes??

Comments

[inkprincess.livejournal.com]

Holy shit! whatta bitch! i'd have done the same thing!

[msmidge.livejournal.com]

No kidding. Just one of those snotty comments would have been enough, but all put together? Oh, hell no.

[said-by-me.livejournal.com]

I would be happy to come down and punch her for you. I have had a week of no breaks with a 2 year old. I swear I could land a few quite solidly.

[msmidge.livejournal.com]

Oh, I would like to add: were I you, from now on I'd refuse to move to convenience someone who wants to pull into their garage. They can pull up behind you on the side of the street and wait.

[imp-of-satan.livejournal.com]

I'm betting that woman couldn't PAY someone to have a child with her. I bet she's just jealous of you and your beautiful family.

Also, I am totally stealing the phrase "holy hormones!" I just KNOW I'm going to need that!

[teamrose.livejournal.com]

If i had been in your shoes, I'd have acted the same way and I probably *would* have punched her in the face! I've noticed that little things, especially when concerning my family send me over the edge with a fierceness. Secondly, who casually threatens to run someone's baby over? WTF.

I second the stealing of your "holy hormones!" phrase.

It's not hormones

[hrafntinna.livejournal.com]

I would have flipped on this woman. In fact, I'm angry just sitting here. Those were threats, and whether she intended to carry through on them doesn't much matter from either a practical or a legal standpoint. I really don't know what I would have done in your place, but I like to picture myself getting in her face and yelling.

Re: It's not hormones

[alizarin71.livejournal.com]

Hrafntinna and I have just been sitting here discussing the different sides of the argument, and working out the geometry of the cars and driveway. In the end, I basically have to agree with Hrafntinna: Whether or not the woman believed she would ever really asphyxiate Benn with exhaust, or ever back into your car door (and possibly Adam as well), she nevertheless made credible threats to do both. It's hard to interpret "I'd hate for my car to burp (blow exhaust) on your baby" in any unthreatening way.

Plus, what an asshole! Who would force a couple and their baby to move out of the way just so that they could run in and get their overdue library books, or spare bubble gum, or whatever?

The "Do you want that door" was totally gratuitous, not to mention threatening. I hope she doesn't give you any more of this crap--but if she does, she may benefit from knowing more about her legal responsibilities around this kind of language.

I don't know what I would've done in your place. I seem to have just two gears: making everything nice, and reading someone the riot act. I can easily see your neighbor putting me into 2nd.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Why are you both in Ohio??! *sob*

I miss you.