Sunday night I went to a group dinner with some
of my cycling colleagues (I find it difficult to call them friends even though
we've been together close to 30 years). I really should have knowen better and
should have declined the invitation.
The first thing I learned, I was told a time
that was about an hour late, so everyone had been seated next to whom they
wanted to be with, I was at the far end of the table from at least 2 people I
could have had a conversation with, instead I was stuck between 2
homophobes.
Since I was contacted late I had already eaten a
late lunch so I wasn't really to hungry and only ordered 2 slices of Pizza, the
rest ordered full dinners, this place is not a budget restaurant so I know it
must have been 30-45 dollars per person, the one person beside me order 2 half
bottles of wine too. When he heard my order he said that's going to be the most
expensive Pizza you ever ate, meaning they always like to split the bills
evenly, I think they over order so that everyone else has to pay for someone
else's over indulgence, I really think that's rude. I threw in 15.00 bucks for
my pizza and a coke, fuck them (oops, did I say that?).
After we ate I went down to talk with the 2 guys
I'm closer with. I was wearing skin tight jeans, women's riding boots a tweed
sports jacket and a ferdora hat, so it was a little like an "Indiana Jones"
look. I sat down between one friendlier guy and the organizer of the dinner who
always needs to break my chops about everything I do, he starts rubbing my leg
asking in a loud tone, how the hell did you get into those jeans, he kept
rubbing and finally grabbed with both hands my leg. I had to answer in the same
tone of the gesture and said, I have to wet them first so they stretch over my
body and then shrink up. I called him the next day (no answer) and left a
message that I was suing for sexual harassment. While I think about it, we all
wear Lycra/spandex when we ride bicyle.
Interestingly, the night before (Saturday) my
wife and I went to an anniversary dinner, we've known this group of people about
5 years through Karaoke, they all know me as Louise and occasionally as Lou,
Saturday I was Lou because this was a party for this other couple. The invite
was 3 weeks before and we have always been included with all their get
together's without any discomfort or negativity from anyone. Also, every couple
had separate checks and ours was 40,00 dollars with tip and one glass of wine
and no insults and I dressed the same way as the night with the cyclist. Go
Figure.
1 comment:
There are all types of people. I find that those who are secure about themselves tend to be the most gracious in dealing with others while those who are not secure or feel as if they have to prove something or feel the need to make themselves feel bigger by putting down someone else can behave in boorish fashions.
It sounds like the friends that you know as both Lou and Louise are secure and open minded while the bike crew seem like a bunch of frat boys.
Pat
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