Manners???

I had an episode this weekend with a woman as I was getting on a train. I suppose I was feeling a bit put out because I'd been in the city, and several people had been bumping into me, and one woman shoved me with her shoulder as I was crossing an intersection. She didn't mean to, I'm sure, but would a quick, "Oh, excuse me," or a "Sorry," have hurt her. I think not. I realize New York is crowded, and you sort of have to put up with being jostled around.  But come on. Manners please!

I had watched an episode of Oprah earlier in the week concerning the lack of courtesy in our country. Apparently people feel it is pretty bad. So, going back to the train situation, I was getting on the one door the operator had decided to open for the hundred or so commuters (and yes there were several more that could be opened but that is a whole other rant for another day). I was trying to politely wait my turn, giving space to the people in front. After all, I knew that despite the inconvenience, I would get on and get a seat in plenty of time. However, the woman behind me felt differently. After being shoved from the back many time over, I turned around, and firmly said, "Please stop shoving me." I didn't yell. I wasn't trying to make a scene. I just was tired of being propelled forward into the crowd when all I wanted was to give others the same space that I wanted to be given to me.

Needless to say, she didn't take it well. She told me that she hadn't shoved me. I corrected her and said she had. She tried to make the excuse that everyone was pushing. I said that no, I wasn't. I was trying to leave some space so I wouldn't shove the people in front of me and asked her to please stay out of my space. She then said that I was rude and disrespectful of my elders, while, at the same time shoving my friend in her attempts to move forward. So, as I told her it wasn't a lack of respect on my part but on hers, my friend very calmly pointed out the fact that she was, indeed shoving, as she had just shoved my friend. She got quiet, having no obvious retort for the fact that she was being rude. She then proceeded to speak in a foreign tongue to her friend standing nearby, probably about how I was a rude little American.

Now, I shouldn't have gotten as upset as I did during the exchange that took place. I really wasn't trying to be rude. I just didn't want to be shoved anymore. What I don't get is why it is acceptable for someone to pull the age card as an excuse for rude behavior. Shoving people is rude. Asking not to be shoved is not rude. Am I crazy?

Guidos

Guido track suits...labeled as follows: (And no, I didn't make this up!)

"White"...sort of boring

Much more amusing..."DooDoo"

Yes, that's right, "DooDoo"!

The "Baby Blue"...not so bad...

For those of you feeling a bit 

more patriotic "The Statesman"

There is a phenomenon here I like to call "the Guido" Jersey Boy. It's rare when I spot a Guido. However, much like when one spots a mullet, it's quite amusing. This morning, I spotted a Guido. I seriously wish I had a camera and could take pictures. So what is a Guido you might ask? A Guido is found only in Northern New Jersey. Normally of Italian heritage, they typically sport a velour track suit and gold chains. And hairiness is a must. However, since only found in Northern New Jersey, they're quite the rare breed.

My first sighting occurred in torts last year. A fellow classmate (no names will be divulged) showed up to school in a mint green, velour track suit. I didn't think it was for real. I only thought that outfits like that happened on the Sopranos. Perhaps I was sitting in class with AJ. But I won't lie, it made me really happy. I wish I could have snapped a picture because I don't know many guys gutsy enough to bust out the velour track suit. This morning, much to my astonishment and joy, I once again ran into a guido. Only his velour track suit was black. 

All I know is that I thought what my friends and I affectionately call the J.Lo was only for the ladies. (And if men did happen to sport one, it was only for a role on television.) I guess not, as the above pictures demonstrate.