Rudeness

There's a little cafe around the corner from my office where I eat quite often. The staff is very friendly, and the food is excellent. Usually I sit inside at a corner table and quietly read my book while I eat. Today the place was packed, and my normal table was full. No big deal. I told the waitress I'd have my usual whenever she had a chance, and that I'd sit outside. It's only 78 out today, instead of the 101 it was two days ago, so I figured I'd enjoy the sun. I was the only person sitting outside, so it was nice and quiet. Just as my food is being delivered, another woman comes outside to sit down. There are 8 tables outside, but she chooses the one closest to me. Again, no big deal. Until she lights up a cigarette.

I don't mind people who want to smoke, as long as they don't do it upwind from me. I don't want to smell it, smell like it, or have my food smell like it. California has a no smoking law in restaurants that I thought also applied to the patio. (I admit I'm not sure if the patio is covered under the law or not). I covered my nose and mouth with my napkin for a couple of minutes, hoping the woman would notice and move tables. She did not. Without a single word, glance, glare, or sigh I got up, grabbed my purse and plate, and moved to a table further away, which was not down wind from her smoke. I did not ask her to stop smoking. I did not ask her to move. I simply took myself away from what I considered a problem. So I was astonished to overhear her say on her cell "Oh I seem to have offended someone with my smoking. The bitch got up and moved away from me."

Excuse me? I'm a bitch because I moved away from her smoke? I don't understand that. Certainly I could be called a bitch if I'd gone with my first instinct, which was to ask her to stop smoking near me, or move away from me (because I can guarantee I wouldn't have been nice about it). But I refrained. It's her right to smoke, just like it's my right not to, and it's my right to walk away from a situation I'm not comfortable in. It is not, however, her right to call me names because I disagree with her choices.

I didn't confront her, though in retrospect I wish I had. Every time I think I can't be surprised by people anymore, I get proved wrong. It's no wonder I get more and more bitter and jaded as I get older.