So yesterday I observed something really strange. Mom's commenting on other people's strollers like they were cars or something. Many of our customers walk from the surrounding neighborhoods and meet to have coffee, or stop in on their exercise "walking" route.
One of the regular customers, Ken, pushed his baby stroller inside and ordered his drink. Two mom's with competing strollers, who were waiting for their drinks by the bar started commenting on his wheels:
"Oh Marsha, look that rain guard! It must be one of the new gortez kind. Oh my god."
"I know... it's the complete wrap-around guard with out Velcro. That could go through a tsunami and keep his kid dry. Dammit! George knew I wanted that for Christmas..."
and they preceded to walk over to Ken's stroller and admire it, clearly annoyed that they did not get their Christmas wish, and were comparing aloud their strollers "better qualities."
And so I thought:
Really? Is this what we have to look forward to? Comparing strollers with people? Checking wind resistance and waterproofing to protect a tiny baby (who probably hates being in there anyway)? I don't know... I had yet to witness this "elite mom" attitude pertaining to strollers, and I realized I don't want to be one of those moms. I am far, far away from that happening any time soon, BUT, when it does happen I don't want to get jealous over someone's sweet stroller. What a waste of time.
However, if I was as priveleged as these mom's when I have kids, and all I have to worry about is "jogging" to get a latte down the street and making it to yoga on time, maybe I would worry about insignificant things too. Like which organic apple sauce to buy, or how many calories are in a vegan brownie, and how to successfully dress my child like they are a product of the 1920's.
And THEN-
Today I made it to the gym. As I was in changing in the dressing room, a cell phone rang, a woman answered it and started talking. Now most of us are use to other people talking on their phones out in public. At work I hear about 10 conversations a day that are completly one sided. Normally it's the "Oh hey! Yeah I'm good. Just getting a coffee... oh not too much... blah blah blah... oh I should probably order now, can you hold on?" Whatever. But today, in the woman's locker room, I ununwantingly overheard a conversation that, in my eyes, was completly innapropriate to be had in public.
The woman was talking to her daughter on the phone and decided this would be a good time to have one of the more awkward talks I can think of:
"How are you doing down there? Well were you in your hotel room lastnight? Because Dad said he called the hotel room and no one answered, so now is pretty sure you were out on the town. Where were you last night? Well, he said he called the room and no one answered.... well was he right? What's going on? I thought you liked Julian! Were you out with another guy? Well, Dad seems to think you are out doing all sorts of things. Having this crazy... sex life. Like sex with a lot of people. And doing Extasy, and.... Well are you? Well I don't know why, be he seems to be 110% sure that you are out doing these things and having a party life..."
And so it went on and on and on. At one point there was yelling, and you could hear the girl on the other side of the phone screaming back. I was thinking, is this really the best place to have this talk? I mean, if this was my mom talking on the phone to me I would be so embarrassed knowing strangers where hearing her give me the 3rd degree on having sex with people and doing E. That would be almost as bad as the actual conversation. I was just blown away that this mom was just laying it all out there infront of the whole locker room. Who does that?
Well, that's my two cents today. So, just watch out what you say when you are around people who you think don't care, or don't hear you... because I might be there too. Ha ha!
