Hiya!

Ok, I was sitting with a friend watching a k-drama (see blog 1) when I was hit with a craving for ice cream. I asked my friend if she wanted to go out for some. It being a balmy 16 degrees Fahrenheit she looked at me like I was crazy. She does this quite often but to be fair I look at her in the same way quite often.

I, personally, think she just didn't want to get out of her pjs. She said no but I could bring her back a hot fudge sundae. I had splurged for lunch (Chinese) so I might as well buy dessert too.

I grabbed my jacket and purse and skipped out to my truck. I drove down several tree lined blocks of the south side of Indianapolis where we and the rest of the State are going through a struggle to see whose "rights" come first (different blog subject). I turned into the Dairy Queen and started to go through the drive through when I thought instead to go inside.

I ordered MY hot fudge sundae (there goes the diet - sigh, another blog entry) from the pretty teenager behind the counter (why do the prettiest girls work there?) and sat down in a booth looking out the window to the street.

I was taking my time eating the ice cream trying to stay away from the fudge, saving that until last when I noticed a man sat down in the booth facing me. He was tall, my age, sporting a blonde goatee flecked with white, and a baseball cap.

Eventhough I was in the southern part of the city I became more aware of my surroundings. I continued to eat my sundae focusing on my IPhone and not messing up my lipstick. That is when he spoke.

"Can I say you're very pretty?"

My eyes darted up from my iPhone to see who he was speaking to and saw he was looking in my direction. I glanced side to side to see no one was around. I smiled nervously and nodded my head thanking him.

"You are even prettier when you smile," he said.

My heart skipped a beat. I was flattered at what he said but also immediately becoming apprehensive. I wasn't looking for any type of an encounter positive or negative. I guess I was more afraid of a negative reaction, especially from a man that large.

I smiled again and got up from my booth and mouthed "thank you" at him. I'm not sure he would have heard me if I spoke since my heart was beating so loudly.

I could feel his eyes on me as I went to the counter. The pretty girl again took my order and brought me a second hot fudge sundae. I turned to see him watching me. I focused my eyes on my truck outside the doors and walked purposely to it. As I drove away I saw him continue to watch me.

So was it a compliment or a try at a pick up?

After reflection, I have come to the conclusion it didn't matter. I was uneasy about the encounter. But why should I be? He made no other advances and was smiling himself. While everyone must be aware of their surroundings not everyone is out to hurt us. It is our attitudes that shape our preceptions of the world.

Next time, I will take the compliment for what it is.

Amberlynn