We're Never too Old to Learn a Lesson

I just returned from an interesting trip to Wal-Mart.  By the way, I hate Wal-Mart but find it a necessary evil.

When I exited the store, I purposefully used the door that was all the way on the other side from where I parked.  This meant I needed to walk the side walk almost the entire length of the store to get back to my car.  The sun is shining, humidity down, I thought why not?  Fresh air is good.

There was an elderly woman some distance ahead of me.  Since she was walking slowly, I easily caught up with her.  She was pretty much in the middle of the sidewalk so I began to go around the left of her.  Just then she moved to the left.  I backed off and steered right as she weaved that way, so I said, "Excuse me" - she turned and very nastily said, " you could have gone around me the other way".

I laughed at this irony, passed her - and then stopped.  As, I turned back to her she looked a little worried and she stopped too since I was now blocking her path.  

I said, "First, you have nothing to fear.  Second, I know you don't have eyes in the back of your head but actually I did try to pass you to the left, you were weaving left and right." 

She grumbled something I didn't quite hear but the tone was still nasty.  So, I said to her, I know you're elderly, maybe you're in pain; maybe you're having a bad day.  Maybe you have no one that cares about you and you're lonely.  I don't know.  I do know I probably startled you - but none of these things are reasons for you to be rude.  Everyone has something going on.  I don't know your story, but, I hope your day improves immensely.  Look the sun is shining and we are both alive".  

Then I turned and walked off leaving her there - stunned to silence - to stare after me.