What follows can be really ugly. I don't "lose it" very often, but when I do, it is far from pretty.
Even my dog, Crazy Zoe, knows to cower if she sees me giving her this face. She instantly drops to the ground and quivers.
See that solemn expression can turn ugly in a heart beat. When it turns ugly, man and beast better grab their shit and run. You can generally tell I'm not happy when my lip starts to curl up and my eyes get hinky.
On Sunday night, we took Ziva and M back to their hotel in San Francisco after dinner. I had pushed a large bag of plums into their hands as they were leaving our house. In San Francisco, Alex parked in front of their hotel and we all got out of the car to say our goodbyes.
I was hugging Ziva and on the verge of tears because she was leaving. A big stoned and dirty homeless man was bothering Alex and M. I saw Alex put some change in his cup. The homeless guy was being obnoxious and telling M to "Give me some of them plums." I really didn't want that man to touch any of us or our belongings. I took the bag of plums from M, opened it, and took out one plum. I gave it to the homeless man who immediately shouted "Naw, I want two plums."
A slight explosion went off in my head. I was going to cause great bodily harm to this belligerent son of a bitch if he didn't get the hell away from us right that moment. I saw Alex get really tense out of the corner of my eye. I saw Ziva look a little nervous too. I was ready to go all ghetto on this man. I was within two seconds of taking off my stiletto and shoving the heel up the guy's ass.
San Francisco has more than its share of homeless. Most of the people are polite in their requests for some help. I usually dig in my purse for change or for a dollar. I have given a lot of money to homeless people over the years. Sometimes I smile vaguely and say "sorry" as I walk on past. Most of the homeless population are polite even if I don't "help them out". They tell me to have a nice day or say "God bless you." and as far as I'm concerned, that's fine.
But having some angry jacked up mofo trying to scare and intimidate young visitors sent me into a rage. I shook with anger half the way home. I'm very glad I didn't have some kind of a weapon because I would have sprayed pepper spray in that dude's face so fast it would have made his head spin.
I love San Francisco. I hate seeing people foul the City's image and reputation. If this was an isolated case it wouldn't have made me so angry, but it happens all the time. The City needs to take a close look at how detrimental the "tolerant" policy can be when it comes to aggressive panhandlers.
Fortunately, the homeless man was not so far gone that he ignored the warning I gave him. He moved on. Good thing too. I was ready to puncture him with my stiletto shoe.
It is especially upsetting when you have out-of-towners with you. Here in Kansas City we have far less homeless than you because of our horrible winters so I haven't seen much of this.
ReplyDeleteHowever, when we lived in Dallas there was some of this as well. No one (homeless or not) should be intimidating or rude. Very exasperating.
I tried to entice Ziva and M to Sacramento ... poor San Fran, it has its issues.
ReplyDeleteA$$hole!
ReplyDeleteSan Francisco is a great City. I just wish people would not try to defile her by acting so ugly. (Sacramento is a lovely City too, but way too hot for this SF girl!)
ReplyDeleteIndigo, Ziva and M had a great couple of days here. I think the dirty man upset me more than it did them.
ReplyDeleteSan Francisco is so beautiful. I hate it when visitors come and have to tolerate rude and abusive behavior. (It's bad enough for the locals, Cheryl, but for some reason, I think it's even worse for visitors.)
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame! Although, I kind of wish I'd had the chance to see you "go ghetto" I'm guessing it's quite a sight to see :-)
ReplyDeleteIt is a sight to see unless you are on the receiving end. Then I've heard it's scary!
ReplyDeleteThat is a scary face! ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhat I want to know is - Who does your photography? Do you co-op Alex? If so, I'm glad he was behind the camera for this one. And, that homeless man was clueless. He picked the wrong lady to harass. You may be unassuming in your stilettos, but I know better.
ReplyDeleteI know Fi and I toned it down for the cameral.
ReplyDeleteThat's right, Ann! You saw me give Zoe "crazy eyes" and what it did to her. Now magnify that about 100 times. Dude knew he was going to be in some deep doo doo if he continued.
ReplyDeleteMy sentiments exactly, Jeanie!
ReplyDeleteThat's just plum awful.
ReplyDeleteIt was plum ridiculous if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteThat sucks. Too bad you didn't have Harry and Zoe with you.
ReplyDeleteOy vey, what a friggen nightmare. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteIt is a sad state when people demand what they want of yours and think they are entitled to it! People like that need to be told to back off...your stilettos would have gotten the point across, pun intended!
ReplyDeleteZoe would have whacked him hard with her wagging tail. Harry is better security. He doesn't like dirty people who get too close to his family.
ReplyDeleteThis guy was terrible. I hate to see these things happen, particularly when people are visiting SF for the first time.
ReplyDeleteThe man was really trying to intimidate Ziva and her husband. I hate to see that.
ReplyDeleteSeriously.
ReplyDeleteI still want to visit SF. I'll make sure to do so in my stilettos! :)
ReplyDeleteMelissa, just give me a call. I'm really good at stiletto intimidation. SF is a gorgeous city. You'd love it! Best time of the year is October. (Perfect weather.)
ReplyDeleteI was so mad on your behalf as i read this Mom. Thankful you didn't have to resort to violence :(
ReplyDeleteDarling Ginger, the man really was a jerk. Scaring the tourists like that! He should be ashamed.
ReplyDeleteI especially loved the second picture. Your ANGRY look! I tend to think you don't do that often... except for plum stealing rude people!
ReplyDeleteAww, you would've sat home feeling bad had you punctured that man with your shoe. You know what, Linda? You all huff and a little puff. You have a bigger heart than that, which is why you let him off. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh Linda, you so saved me from that awful man who wanted to steal my plums. I have to say, though, I was never worried, you totally had my back. I love you and your dangerous stilettos!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love you and your glorious tresses. That man was so nasty!
ReplyDeleteNo, Totsy, I am a dangerous bitch if you know me. I have a hair trigger temper that I very seldom lose because it could land me in jail very easily.
ReplyDeleteI love the second photo too because it really is how I look right before I explode and bodies start flying.
ReplyDeleteWell I, for one, am glad you saved Ziva's plums! Never mess with a woman wearing stilettos!
ReplyDeleteI certainly would not let some dirty homeless dude touch one of my girl's plums. And stilettos do make a great weapon, Boom Boom!
ReplyDeleteThe homeless man was lucky.
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy to think that you give somebody something and they want more. Take what you are given and move along. I hope I'll never be homeless, but I want to believe if I was and had to try and beg, I'd understand that not everybody will give and if they do, appreciate it and move on.
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with helping homeless people, but I really prefer giving to food banks and outreach programs. If we leave a restaurant with a "doggie bag', we see someone who looks homeless, we give them the food. I just hate seeing people being aggressive to someone who looks "easy".
ReplyDelete