I'm sorry, was that your foot?
I did it.
I defended my personal space.
I had written a blog a week or so ago about my need for distance between me and people I don't know, and some of the responses I got suggested that the next time I felt like I was being invaded I should defend my space.
So I did. I was at the airport this morning, waiting for my friend Jim to arrive. I was at the gate, and became actuely aware of a very large young man standing about a foot behind me breathing heavily. I moved. He followed. I moved again, about 5 feet away this time. He followed. I headed for the gift store..and he followed. 'Right' I thought, 'i'm not playing this silly game'
So I went and stood back at the gate again. He followed, and came and took his spot about a foot behind me. I stepped back, planted my stiletto heeled mule squarely on the toe of his shoe and shifted as much weight onto it as I could without falling over.
He squealed. "Oh, I'm sorry" I said, turning around to face him. "Was that your foot I stepped on?" He replied that it was.
"Oh, my goodness, I'm so sorry! I didn't realize you were standing THAT close. I mean, I knew you were close, but not THAT close. I'm sorry" I said, and I went and sat down in the chairs, trying not to laugh (or let him see me laugh, anyway!)
Funnily enough, I was wearing the same perfume today...perhaps that's the problem? Anyway, I did it, and I have to say I feel quite good about it.