A Not So Pleasant Micro Memoir

I'm certain this little story does not fit into the theme of love all around us. Be that as it may, it is still a memorable moment in my word nerd history. Fewer words bring such shock and disgust as the word known to many as "the c-word." Someone blasting this word out of the verbal cannon, must certainly be offended by the behavior of the target of the ammunition, no?

I was in my very early twenties. I know this because I was already married, but I didn't have my son yet. I gave birth at 25. It was my early teaching career, and hired at about $18, 000 annual salary, I had to tutor after school to make ends meet. Late afternoon, I drove a couple of towns over to meet with a student at his house. I was a few minutes early and very thirsty, so I stopped at a local shopping center to grab a quick beverage. If you know South Florida, you can picture the parking lot, just like every other Publix shopping center in the state.  I pull into the giant lot and tried to take the perimeter lane around to the front, to avoid the afternoon shoppers as much as possible. As I made my way all the way around to the right, I found myself in front of the Publix in the lane next to the sidewalk, passenger side to the store.  It must have been a late fall or winter day, as I was driving with my window down. There was heavy foot and shopping cart traffic coming out of the store, so I slowed my roll. Pedestrians passed in front of me as I allowed the shoppers to make their way through the crosswalk. I could feel the vehicle behind me pull up quickly into a tailgate. "Honk! Honk!"  The driver was aggressively leaning on his horn, expressing disapproval of my courtesy to the walkers. I continued to wait, waving them across. He continued to honk. So I shot him a bird in my rearview mirror. Yup. I did. Stupid jerk. The shoppers crossed, kids in tow, and before I could even let off the gas, the driver pulled around my side. He stopped, rolled down the window, and yelled, "Fucking cunt!" Seriously? He was mad because I let some shoppers cross the road? I can only imagine the shock he must have seen on my face. I was just dumfounded. I didn't respond and he just sped off. He looked old enough to be my dad, maybe even grandpa. I didn't know grown men used that word. In fact, at that time, I don't even know if I had ever heard anyone say it out loud in my presence before. Actually, never have since. Jerk.