Comments from Strangers

Well, moving to Maine I suspected (OK, knew) this would happen but it did. Is this week 3? And 2:3 in just one morning - a 3 hour outing.

#1
We went downtown (Portland, ME) and stopped at the farmer's market. An older woman stopped and asked: "Where did they come from?" referencing my kids. In my head I thought:

-The moon?
-My Vag*na
-None of your freakin' business?
-Who are you? What is wrong with you?

Answer: We are from Arizona.

Then, I realized she was essentially wearing a low-end snowmobile outfit with winter boots - in the city in September. Now, it was chilly today. We wore sweaters (and capris/shorts). There was something mentally wrong with this woman. I shrugged it off and went about our business. I think she just verbalized what others must think.

Then...
#2:
We went to the library and in the middle of reading my two kids a book a disheveled looking woman in a pink sweatshirt who was in her 30s or maybe 40 interupted:

"Excuse me."
Yes?
"You are soooo beautiful." Directed at Gianna. She asked how old she was and then how older brother was. Innocent and sweet Gianna answered all of this stranger's questions. I sat and watched her, my kids, my purse and smelled the tobacco roll off of her (and she wasn't even that close to me!).

Apparently all of her questions to my child were complete so she turned to me and stated:
"Their father must be pretty dark, hugh?"

I paused (you'd all be so proud, I paused - they say that is a sign of wisdom but I did it for emphasis).

I stared at her.
(I thought of saying some wild things like: "Nope, he's a red-headed Irishman but that isn't exactly true.)

I quietly and calmly without much emotion in my voice said:
"That's a really personal question."
I looked at her for a moment and went back to reading to my lovely children.
She got the point and walked away.

#3 (+):
We left and a lovely man sitting on the corner waiting for someone/something spoke to Gianna in the kindest tone and said:
"Your hair is beautiful."
(This was NOT one of those - Oh my word, I've never seen a white woman with an ethnically mixed child and I'm going to say something so I'm going to comment on her hair. Nope.
This was a black man with his ethnically mixed little boy who was openly being kind to my child. So calm and gentle and nice.). Gianna smiled and we went to our car.

So....it happened. Classless.