I pulled into the Walgreens parking lot at about 12:30. I just needed to pick up a prescription. (Yes, for my Hand, Foot and Mouth disease.) I turned off the car, got out, and made it about halfway to the store before I saw them.

High school kids. En masse.

Dammit, I muttered to myself. I forgot about open lunch. I hurried into the store, making my way around multiple groups of teenagers walking slowly, congregated on the sidewalk, and just generally getting in the way. I surreptitiously eyed their amazingly of-the-moment and fashionable clothes and cursed myself for leaving the house in my tennis shoes. I watched them giggle and flirt and I prayed that they would either not notice me at all, or that they would think I was cool and/or desirable. I practically tripped over my own two feet getting into that store because the mere presence of large groups of teenagers made me more self-conscious than I would feel walking around downtown naked in front of a crowd of normal adults.

Good god, people, what’s wrong with me?? Continue reading »