Politeness

Have you ever gone someplace and had people be polite to you? Now have you been to a place where you have been polite to someone else? Not odd really. Usually, I am helpful when I see the need and am not in a hurry, frazzled over my kids. Someone needs help and without asking I just help. This sounds normal right? But, today I got people being polite just because it would serve them. A selfish polite.
I took the kids this morning to get a cup of coffee at a local coffee superstore. Shortly after jumping into the car- you know how quickly a mommy can get two kids in a car and transfer a stroller from one vehicle to the next. Super speed right-10 minutes later. I decided that I rather have coffee and a walk. So off to a local neighborhood that is family oriented and a little bit on the upscale side.
We walked to the coffee shop, got coffee and left. I opened the door with my behind, started scooting the stroller out while trying to get the monkey to walk through the open door in a small space next to me. In the midst of all of this action a man waits inside trying to get out- somewhat patiently but doesn't move to help. And a women from outside, almost completely oblivious to me in the door, grabs the handle and opens it, freeing my butt and giving me the ability to move faster. I said "thank you" in an upbeat voice and she didn't respond.
She was in her own world- so close to coffee she could practically taste its bitterness on her sour puss. It took time before she even realized that I had spoken to her. She was not aiding a fellow women in need- she was trying to get her fix, I was just an obstacle she needed to move out of her way quicker so she could run to the head of the line. I don't think I have ever payed attention to this kind of selfish encounter. But, I went on my merry way coffee, stroller and kids.
As we ended our walk and headed towards our car nothing enduring or out of the ordinary happened. We window shopped, we walked, I drank my coffee.
Next to our car a older women parked. She had done so before we had even left our car. She parked next to my drivers side after I had removed the baby so I hadn't noticed her extraordinary parking job. When we went back I then noticed that she had parked extremely close to my drivers side. Thus I was able to open the door, with hitting her rear passenger door, enough to barely squeeze the car seat with child in but not latch him. I left his door open a bit so I would remember that he was not ready to go. I went about putting the monkey in the car and closing up the stroller when who should come up but old woman who parks too close when there are an infinite amount of open spaces around.
In her old stylish grandma way told me she was going to close my door all the way. And she said it with a smile on her face. As if she was doing me a favor. How often do people forget to close a door? I mean yes a times we don't close it hard enough but the door wasn't ajar it was open. I could see it open, luckily it rested open only 2 inches so as not to be hitting her rear passenger door anymore. To that I answered "No thank you, my baby is in the car and I still need to latch him in". She then took her hands off of my car door- said "oh" and proceeded to get in her car and go. Good job grandma. My door was not in her way- her whole damn car was in mine. I thought I was going to have to back out a bit to fix the car seat before leaving. It was so nice of her to offer fixing my car so she wouldn't have to turn her head while backing out. Selfish,selfish,selfish. Next time don't park so damn close to people!
I wonder what goes through peoples minds? She saw that I had to kids, how would they magically get in and out of the car? And how can you miss my big ass in the glass door help or don't but pay attention.
In the end nothing was damaged or feelings hurt but I think I see things a little differently. Next time I have the monkey wig out in the coffee shops doorway to stop all walking traffic and cry when I can't get into my car properly.