Moral Dilemma 1: Eyelash Wishing

The other day I found an eyelash. But it was on Shawna’s cheek. So, I told her that she had a wish. Then, she told me that I had a wish because I found it. And I said that it was her wish, because it was her eyelash.

Does anyone know the rules on eyelash wishing? Is this why my eyelash wishes never come true?

Moral Dilemma 2: Fitness Center Etiquette

Which is ruder? Not wanting to talk to people when you are working out, or them trying to talk to you while you are trying to work out?

Today, a woman who always feels the need to chitchat walked into the fitness center while I was on the treadmill and Shawna was doing weights. I glanced at her as the door opened and immediately averted my eyes, because I’ve learned from experience that smiling at this woman is an invitation to converse, even when it isn’t. So, she went over to the weight machine and started talking to Shawna, who answered her questions in one-word answers, because she was lifting 60 pounds with her leg at the time.

After a few questions with clipped answers, the woman told Shawna that she wasn’t very friendly, because she was trying to talk to her and Shawna wasn’t responding. Then, she said that no one here was very friendly, so Shawna replied that maybe they were trying to concentrate, like she was. The woman got huffy and went to the exercise bike instead.

I know that there are a lot of lonely people in the world, and I think that’s sad, and if someone starts talking to me on an airplane or in line at a grocery store, or even falls into stride beside me on my way home from work one evening to tell me all about the cell phone conversation with their ex-girlfriend that they just had (true story), that’s all very well and good.

But there are just some places and times when people shouldn’t try to strike up a conversation with a stranger.

Examples

~ If you are sitting next to someone on an airplane and they are reading or working on a laptop. (It may be recreational, or they may be studying for a huge exam that they have to take the moment you land. You can usually tell this by how desperately the person wants you to shut up.)

~ If you are in a stall in a public restroom. (Exception if your stall is out of toilet paper. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. But don’t be surprised if the person in the next stall doesn’t care that you have to drip dry.)

~ If you are walking on a flat treadmill at 2 mph and the person beside you is running 7 mph on a 5% incline.

In these instances, is the person who doesn’t respond, or who doesn’t respond joyfully and with enthusiasm, really being rude?

PS – Shawna said that Canadians are too polite to tell me how jealous they really are about my date with Wendy Crewson. I say this is a stereotype, and Canadians can be just as vile as the rest of us. Don’t you worry, I got your backs.