Do I have "sucker" written on my forehead?

Within the past four days, I've had two encounters of people trying to either sell me something or leave pamphlets for me to read. Both of these encounters happened the old fashioned way with each individual coming to my door.

The first one were two Jehovah Witnesses. This is the not the only time they have come, more like the third time this year. You can read about another encounter here. They came in the middle of the day on Sunday when I was just about to take a nap, and of course the dogs alerted me that someone was there. Normally, I would not have opened the door at all and just pretended to not be home, but I thought it might have been my landlord. I opened the door and talked to them from afar, kind of nodded my head, even as they read some passage from the Bible, took their pamphlets, and then they left. They left, saying they hoped they could sit and chat with me sometime. Okay, that will never happen.

The second one happened yesterday. I had just gotten home and was about to feed my dogs, and then there was a knock on the door. It was a young kid--maybe seven or eight, selling some "spirit" card. It's essentially a card with a lot of different local restaurants, service places, and other businesses. Apparently, each time you shop there, you get a discount of some kind. This wouldn't have been so bad if I even remotely went to any of these restuarants or businesses. How could I say no to some sweet-looking young kid whose mom was in my driveway? I ended up giving up ten dollars I could have used elsewhere. As I was exchanging money with the kid, the mother yells out to me that she sees me all the time (I assumed out running). I guess this is one way to get to know the neighbors despite the fact that I've been here for oh six years.

It's encounters like these and this one too that happened this year which sometimes makes me feel like I have "sucker" written on my forehead. It's like there is a sign on my door that tells people to come by, because this person is nice, polite, and you can just get something from her. Any situation where people are "selling" their services at my door leave me feeling very uncomfortable, especially religious ones.

I have a hard time saying no anyway, but this doesn't make it feel any easier. Why is it I have no problem with some telemarketer who is trying to sell something over the phone that I am not interested? But face to face just seems so much harder, and if there is some cute kid, that just causes guilt. After all, who wants to reject a kid, even when it is like Girl Scout cookies which you don't even eat anyway. I've had that happen over the years as well with my landlord's daughter. There was a sense of "obligation" to buy from her.

I know I'm not the only one out there with this type of "problem" if you want to call it that. This is why they have classes for sales people to learn ways to entice you to buy something. I guess overall, it just reminds me of how I still have a problem with saying no and being assertive.

After all, isn't this just one other thing that can leave us feeling guilty, overworked, and stressed? So why do we do this to ourselves?

Co-op experience

One of my things on my list was to do my grocery shopping which I normally do on Mondays. I normally go to Whole Foods when I'm getting natural products but decided instead to stop by the local co-op. It had been awhile since I'd shopped there, so my navigation skills weren't too great. I also realized it seemed that everyone had gone alternative and was using the reusable bags, similar to green bags Actually, I had these in my car and totally forgot to bring them. It somehow made me feel a little self conscious. However, when I do remember the green bags, I only feel comfortable using them in natural food stores versus a regular grocery store where I see no one using them. Seems quite silly when I think about it.

Anyway, within the first five minutes, I saw a client who immediately waved and said hi. I said hi back and we both went on our way. Thirty or so minutes later, I saw another client. This one was actually my former professor, so it was nice to see her. The funny thing was when I drove up to the store, I wondered whether P. (professor) would be there. And lo and behold, there she was.

Then in between seeing clients, this guy comes up to me and hands me this American flag pin. The paper the pin was stuck to read, "Let's be friends! I am a deaf person selling these cards and flag pins for a living." Then there was a heart in the middle with the "I love you" sign. The bottom of the paper read, "Donation-any price you wish."

I really was not sure how to react. Was this guy really deaf? And how come I didn't see him going around to other people but just me? I wound up giving him a dollar. He signed thank you, and then scurried off. It was a really bizarre encounter. I have nothing against deaf people, I've met several of them and my boss is profoundly deaf. I guess I like to think I did a nice thing, but maybe I was being played? Who knows. Has anyone else had this happen to them?

The rest of the shopping trip went okay. I did pick up a few different items to try. Hopefully, I don't get a lot of anxiety over it. Oh yes, and I saw this sign in the store for a dietitian that meets with people there on certain days of the week. The first 15 minutes is free, but I'm not sure what the rest of her fee would be. I'm considering this idea, at least maybe to bounce off some ideas or feel accountable or something. My insurance doesn't cover nutritionists/dietitians and the one here in town I would like to go to doesn't take my insurance. Maybe I can work something out. I guess it's good that I'm at least giving this food for thought, right?

Bizarre encounter this morning

I woke up about 7 AM this morning and did my usual things. However, after about an hour in a half, I decided I was a little tired and wound up going back to bed. I'm not sure if it was that I couldn't get myself up to go for a run this morning, so sleeping seemed like a better alternative or what. I set my alarm to get up at 10 AM, but was disturbed by a knock at my door. I thought it might be the UPS person. She sometimes knocks and then leaves the package by my door.

Well, it wasn't the UPS lady. It was two old men who were Jehovah's Witnesses and wanted to talk to me. This is not the first time these people have stopped by wanting to distribute their materials. The last time, it was an African-American couple who politely left when I told them I was not interested. They came by another time when I wasn't here and left their propaganda on my door. This man was a little more insistent in talking. I just stood there and nodded my head. I had already told him I was not interested, and he continued to talk anyway. He gave me two of his pamphlets and asked me my name. It was kind of funny, because I had to think for a moment that I was not about t ogive out my real name. So I just said "Lisa." Actually, come to think of it, I should have said something like "Lemonjello," and yes, that is a real name. There is a very funny story that goes along with that name.

I just don't get it. I don't see them stop at my neighbor's houses. Maybe they come at a different time or something. Do I have some kind of sign on my door that says, "here is some non-religious person, so you should come by to see if you can convert her." Maybe I have issues with them, just due to the fact that when I was younger, my mother was not too keen of them either. Whenever they knocked on the door, she'd make up some random excuse that they could not come in, because I was sick. And then before you know it, I'd jump out and appear. I don' think she was too happy when I did that.

I think, in general, however, I am not into anyone pushing any kind of religion on me period. This is a funny story. Once in college, some random guy walked up to me and asked about my hand since it is not normal looking. I politely told him the story of how it was a congenital birth defect and that I have had surgeries on it. Then he promptly told me to come to this place for a religious meeting, and that God would save me and help my hand and all. Yeah, I thought that was really bizarre.

I'm hoping for no other bizarre things today. I need to go get ready for my dental appointment. I never look forward to these things, and hopefully, the hygeniest won't yell at me for not flossing well.