Cringe & Facepalm

The first time, someone parked there then told me (yes, told) to just knock next door if I needed out, but they'd only be 10 minutes. They were there hours.

Today a different vehicle is doing the same (been there at least 4 hours). This time they knocked but didn't wait for me to actually come to the door.

I feel like the asshole being annoyed about it, especially because I don't need to go out today. But one of the reasons I bought a house of my own was so that I could go in and out and about my business without asking someone's permission.

It seems silly to go and ask them to move when I'm not actually leaving, but it's eating me up that by letting them stay, I'm allowing them to think I don't care and they will walk all over me like people always do when you're a quiet, not-taking-up-too-much-space, generally keeping to yourself person.

I was reminded of an incident that happened a few years ago by another post on this sub. I was in a line at Home Depot waiting to use the self check out lane when a Boomer loudly said "I hate that kids wear those damn headphones everywhere." He was commenting on the hearing aid I wear in my left ear. I turn around to see some geriatric fuck in a Patagonia shirt, shorts, and nearly purple-red feet in sandals. This is the weirdest part that many have seen with boomers, the comment he made was his conversation opener I guess he expected me to take it out and say sorry sir, or wanted to get into a verbal fight or something. Anyway, I turn and point at the aid and tell him that it's a hearing aid. "Why would anyone your age need a hearing aid you were probably doing something stupid like..." "Yeah I joined the Air Force."

This was the point that he locked up completely. He stayed quiet for the rest of the time I was there, he never apologized but I could tell that he had broken a Boomer rule "Don't say shit about the troops." So he knew he was being an asshole but it was who he was being an asshole to that was the problem for him. I just don't get that mentality of insulting or voicing disapproval to random strangers as an opener? They bemoan the death of manners and respect but act like punks for some reason.

Edit: This got a lot of attention so I'd just like to thank everyone for their kind words. However, it breaks my heart to hear that this was not an anomalous interaction. To all with disabilities big and small, visible and hidden I wish you the best.

Made myself a nice batch of pulled pork last night, so on my way to pick up my child from school yesterday I stopped at the grocery store to pick up some barbecue sauce. Didn't want to bother with a bag for a single bottle of barbecue sauce, so I was holding it in my hand as I walked to the school.

Enter boomer man walking his dog. I see him coming from down the sidewalk and think nothing of him until he gets close to me and I realize he's speaking. I take out my earbud only to be greeted with him ranting at me.

Boomer: "You should be ashamed of yourself, this is a school area and children shouldn't be seeing that."

Me, very confused: "Excuse me..?"

Boomer: "Put the booze away! I can't believe how okay with looking trashy some of you people are! At least wait until you get home, for crying out loud."

Me, still just confused:"Its... it's barbecue sauce."

Boomer looks again at the very obviously a condiment bottle in my hand, then storms off, shouting "Well how was I supposed to know that?!" as if I'M the asshole. Saw him stink eyeing me over his shoulder as I left. Bizarre interaction, and yet totally in character for a boomer.

The pulled pork turned out delicious, by the way.

This happened a week ago, but it's still funny and a little but "what the fuck?".

So I was in line at a Walgreens to pick up a FEDEX package that I had to sign for. FEDEX is a pain in the ass when it comes to signing for things. Sometimes I get a door tag and sometimes I don't. In this case, the driver didn't leave me a door tag and I had to go through quite the adventure to get this package held at my local FEDEX.

This particular package was coming to me from LA, California. The shop name and address is on big letters on the side (free advertising, I suppose). The stuff I get from them is usually worth the hassle of getting a package held.

So I'm waiting in line. There's an older gentleman behind me (likely in his mid to late 60s). I go up to the counter, show my ID, do the signing, and grab my package. Keep in mind that I live in Alabama for the following exchange.

Boomer: "Hey!"

Me: "Yeah?"

Boomer: "Why did you give money to Commiefornia?"

Me: "I'm... sorry? Uh, could you repeat that?"

Boomer: "Why did you give money to Commiefornia? Why didn't you give that money to real Americans?"

Me: "Because I like supporting small businesses?"

Boomer scoffs and said something about libtards, while I walked away. It really and truly wasn't that deep - I do like supporting small businesses and I'm picky about soap! There was absolutely nothing political about my purchase, but I really don't get the impulse to try to make it that way. It's just a collection of handmade soap.

ETA: soap company is Barred from LA. It's one of the few things that doesn't give me an allergic reaction