Monday, September 10, 2007

Dare You.

Hey, you. Yeah, both of you - the lady in front of me buying a dozen doughnuts, and you too, cashier. What's the deal? What's the glare for?

What exactly do you have a problem with? Is it the fact that I'm sweaty? That I dare to come into the grocery store in my running clothes, a thin layer of grime from the trail still clinging to me? Is it my muscles? My smell? I know I'm not a daisy, but I'm pretty sure you can't smell me from way over there. And the dude behind me doesn't seem to have a problem with it. Just you two.

Or is it that I'm obviously a regular person, just like you? That I have cellulite on the backs of my thighs, just like you, a belly stretched out by growing a baby, just like you, a few wrinkles coming in, a less than perfect body and unspectacular hair - and I'm not letting any of that keep me from moving, running, sweating and being? Is it that I'm standing here, brazen and unashamed of my imperfections, unashamed that I sweat and bleed and get dirty?

Or is it that my ordinaryness reminds you that you too could sweat and bleed and get dirty? That you too could embrace the wild animal inside of you that wants to run free and work hard and throw away the makeup? Did your animal see my animal glinting at you through my eyes and threaten to stage a mutiny? Is that what pisses you off about me?

Sorry for showing up like this - normally, I would take a shower and put on some cleaner clothes - but I've seen you giving me a similar glare even then. See, its my kids birthday and I don't have any time to waste. So I apologize.

And, hey, I don't hold your glares against you. I get it. Its scary looking at what you might be if you only tried. I'm not better than you, just braver. At least right now. But you could be brave too, if you wanted to. Anyone can. And that's what's really making you mad, isn't it? So I dare you. I dare you to quit glaring and come run with me. I might be slowing down to let you keep up with me now - but later, I might be struggling just to stay on your heels. You might leave me in your dust. You never know. Not until you try.

So I dare you.

9 comments:

Carrie said...

I bet they glare because they know they've done nothing to earn that box of donuts and you are their lack of sweaty reminder.

Marathoner in Training said...

Your reinactment is to enlighting, I can just visualize the looks on their face. Should I really eat the entire box of donuts or just 9 of them?

Vickie said...

But they DON'T want to try. They think YOU are weird, not THEM. Are they envious? Probably, but also disdainful of something they don't think should be: you daring to be brave. You just keep doing what you do and let them keep glaring. Eventually their faces will freeze that way, right? Isn't that what your mom always told you?

teacherwoman said...

I am going to guess that they are just plain.... JEALOUS. And, probably very disappointed in themselves, probably for a multitude of reasons.

I am one who could care less to go to the grocery store sweaty and stinky. We only have so much time in a day, and when you work full time, spend an hour or 2 at the gym, sometimes you just gotta run those errands after a hot workout and there is no time to shower first!

I am not in perfect shape, but damn... I try my hardest, and I am not one but afraid to show it!

Jane said...

If you could condense this and put it on a t-shirt, I'd wear it!

People will always be judgemental. But they were probably worrying that you were judging them b/c you looked so athletic and they were buying donuts.

Lori said...

Oh, I agree. It would be a great t-shirt!

the Dread Pirate Rackham said...

Ha ha! I've been known to actually say what I'm convinced the glare-er is thinking - out loud. it has a jarring effect...

like, "I'm sorry, I think that horrible smell you are smelling is me."

No Wetsuit Girl said...

Dear sweaty, slimy lady behind me in the checkout line/lady in my checkout line:

How dare you show up like that? How dare you come in to where normal people are doing normal things like buying doughnuts (props on the non-d&d, non-copyrighted spelling), microwave pizzas and American cheese? What are you trying to do? Are you trying to make me feel worse about myself than I already do? Are you trying to convince me that I'm worth more than this crappy lifestyle? Listen, lady, I've heard it from commercials, women's magazines, men's magazines, Ally McBeal, and Weight Watchers, now I CERTAINLY don't need to hear that bullshit from you. Okay? GO HOME! There is no way in hell my body will EVER look like that. My body is not MADE to be athletic. So stop trying to rub it in! I'm NOT a runner, I'm NOT a triathlete, so just leave me alone, okay, LADY?!

Don't you feel sorry for them? You show up as sweaty and nasty as you like, just don't even let 'em know you noticed how they were jealously checking your ass out!

greyhound said...

You.Go. Wish your attitude was shared by more of the xx chormosome set.