badstar

Okay...so in doing ridiculous things like dying my hair fuschia, I expect to get a certain amount of funny looks and comments. On the whole, most of the comments are complimentary. And every now and then someone will say something obnoxious, but hey...it's my hair, and I dig it. When I get tired of it, I'll dye it back to a nice, normal, respectable color. Or something.

This one I think was just a little out of line...waiting at the bus stop in Towson this morning (Yes,

liritsvoice I know, the bus stop...), someone else waiting for a bus comes up to me and starts this...A lady in her late 40's or early 50's I would guess, comes up to me, asks a quick question about the bus schedule which she was having some difficulty understanding...I help her out, show her how the table is laid out, and pointed out that the bus should be there in about 5 minutes.

after this, she gives me a rather disgusted look and from there it goes like this...

Her: "Don't your parents disapprove of you doing that to your hair? And what about that skirt? It's really ugly. I'm sure your mom would have something to say about that."

Me: "Well, they think I'm a litle weird, but they manage. As for the skirt, considering that it's a gift from my mom, I'm reasonably sure she'd be okay with it." (The offending skirt in question is nearly ankle-length, patchwork. One of my favorite pieces of clothing actually.)

Her: "If you were my daughter, you'd be grounded for a year if you disfigured yourself like that."

Me: "I haven't lived with my parents for almost 2 years."

Her: "What are you, a runaway or something?"

Me: "Um, no. I moved out on my own."

Her: "You can't tell me you're old enough to be in college?"

Me: "I was old enough to be in college in 1997. I'm 26. Other than the fact that you plainly disapprove of my choice of clothing and hair color, have I somehow offended you to warrant your talking to me like this?"

Her (ignoring my last question): "What kind of job could you ever expect to find looking like that. Please don't tell me you're on unemployment."

Me: "As it happens, I do tech support for Apple Computer, perhaps you've heard of them. And I don't understand why you stand here and continue to insult me, when I've done nothing other than help you with the bus schedule. I think this conversation is over. Happy Easter."

I walked away (as far as I could and still be near the bus stop anyway) and the bus did soon arrive.

Okay..I know that I look pretty young, and the pink hair definitely adds to the juvenile effect...but does anyone think I look like I'm still to young for college?

In any case, like I said she was out of line. It wasn't so much the hair or the clothes, but saying stuff about my parents, and job?

Good grief, yeah the 'rents think I'm off my rocker, but they deal. They're used to it, and I think at this point it actually amuses my mom. Last year when I had the purple and blue extensions, she tried to pull them out, thinking they were a clip-on thing and wanting to borrow it. I'm 26 years old, gainfully employed and while I may take many issues with my place of employment, I can say this...they don't give a rat's ass what color my hair is or what kind of clothes I wear (well, within reason...they're sure as hell not going to bitch about an ankle-length skirt.)

But what is it that makes people think they have the right to say stuff like that? Am I a runaway? Unemployed? I look "different" so I must be delinqent.

Okay...enough ranting. Time to sleep.