We are standing beside the train track waiting for our train to arrive when we notice her.
She’s middle-aged, with a full medical mask covering her nose and mouth, and a hood drawn up over her head. Around her neck hangs a cardboard sign on which she has written,
I have chemical sensitivities.
I keep glancing over at her in disbelief. In our blend and assimilate society, she stands out like a sore thumb.
Even days later, I keep thinking about this woman and her sign. Why the sign? Was she tired of being asked about the medical mask? Or did she feel the need to broadcast her story to the world?
It might be nice, I think, to wear a sign that tells onlookers the rest of my story. That explains those flaws in my appearance that people might not UNDERSTAND at first glance.
I’d wear stylish shoes, but…
I meant to shower, but the truth is,
And for everything else there’s the catch-all…
What would your sign say?
P.S. I don’t REALLY have bunions. Just so you know.
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October 14, 2008 at 10:38 am
This post totally cracked me up… I think my sign would say “Mother of two-year old”
amys last blog post..7 miles high…
October 14, 2008 at 11:37 am
In America it would say “we’re Orthodox Jews. Not Amish” but in Israel it would say “My Husband is Moroccan.” or “Please speak English or slow Hebrew”
Rabbi’s Wifes last blog post..What’s them strings hangin’ out, Rabbi?
October 14, 2008 at 11:45 am
I think something like, “I haven’t slept in over three years.” Or maybe, “Yes, I did get dressed in the dark.”
Annikas last blog post..What I’m Up To
October 14, 2008 at 11:46 am
On second thought, why not be totally honest? My clothes don’t match because “I still haven’t lost the baby weight.”
Annikas last blog post..What I’m Up To
October 14, 2008 at 11:59 am
I think mine would say “Don’t judge me until you’ve met my mother.” :-)
iMommys last blog post..The one in which I make an ass of myself…
October 14, 2008 at 1:02 pm
“NO” because I can’t say it.
Jackies last blog post..Can’t think of October without thinking of
October 14, 2008 at 1:12 pm
“I am exhausted”
MommyNamedAprils last blog post..The Secret is in the Sauce!
October 14, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Fascinating. I bet she’s wearing it for both the reasons you suggested.
Mine would be “I’m a mother” and probably “yes, I’m depressed”
(oh, and bunions really aren’t fun, especially if you’re only in middle school!)
October 14, 2008 at 1:43 pm
“I would kill for a few moments of quiet” or “Two boys, full time job, exhausted”
I love this post.
followthatdogs last blog post..Great Interview Experiment Part I
October 14, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Mine would say
Not pregnant, just fat, thanks for wondering. :)
pgoodnesss last blog post..True Love
October 14, 2008 at 1:59 pm
“Stop staring, I’m only an A cup.”
Chelseas last blog post..Teachable Moment Gone Wrong
October 14, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Great post! Some good comments too. Right now mine would have to be “she’s cutting her 2yo molars” and “give me a break she’s just 2″. For some reason, people think my daughter is 3 and not supposed to cry in public.
October 14, 2008 at 2:31 pm
ya’ll have me snorting coffee out my nose. hilarious. seriously.
October 14, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I love your sense of humor on this – but really, sometimes a sign to ward off societal judgment (as in the woman with the mask’s case) would be immensely helpful.
For me, mine would come in handy when my 7 y/o [seemingly NORMAL] daughter is melting down in public and people are shaking their heads in judgment at my obvious lack of parenting – “She’s on the autistic spectrum – now shut your mouths, flies are coming in.”
ramblin reds last blog post..Absenteeism
October 14, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I kinda found that sad. Poor lady is probably just so sick of the stares or people mistaking her for Michael Jackson.
midwest mommys last blog post..I Heart Fall!
October 14, 2008 at 4:19 pm
You don’t really have bunions? But you’re sign said so.
My sign: I’m getting my hair cut tomorrow, really.
Wendys last blog post..the boys and girls go to the farm
October 14, 2008 at 4:29 pm
This was brilliant! We all need a sign! :)
Carries last blog post..Oh Give Me a Home . . .
October 14, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Mine would say “I’m wearing pants and I brushed my hair. What more do you want from me?”
Julias last blog post..A Day At The Park
October 14, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Mine would say “I’m pregnant, undercaffeinated, and gassy.”
Erins last blog post..Randomly Speaking
October 14, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Mine would say: “Forgiven, even though I don’t deserve it.” I know it’s not funny, but it’s true.
jubilees last blog post..Don’t Miss Out!
October 14, 2008 at 6:07 pm
That is a bit…er…strange. But I can sort of understand it. I sometimes want to sling a sign around Fruit Bat’s neck that tells the world to keep peanut butter the heck away from him. Maybe that’s why she was doing it.
October 14, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Mine would have to say “I am a girl.” Seriously, I get called “sir” so much it makes my head spin! And im sick of security following me into womens restrooms!
Marcys last blog post..Kids and public bathrooms
October 14, 2008 at 9:53 pm
haha, great post. All the crazies are out in the train stations these days. Well for me, since I just divorced my husband who cheated on me and sold the engagement ring he gave me to http://www.idonowidont.com I would hold up a sign that says “See Ya Mr. Wrong!”… that would make me feel a whole lot better!
October 14, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Wow. Good post, and I love the catch-all I AM A MOTHER.
Mine would say, “Why, yes, I have stopped trying to do it all!”
Just about covers it — not showering, getting dressed in the dark, not sleeping… :)
Stacy (mama-om)s last blog post..This is not a napkin
October 15, 2008 at 5:32 am
I’m not fat , I’m fluffy
I’m not short, I’m vertically challenged
I’d like to be a few inches taller, but then my feet wouldn’t touch the ground (one from mt fahter-in-law, gotta love him)
jspriks last blog post..it’s "nach ‘yo" nacho casserole, it’s mine!
October 15, 2008 at 5:53 am
hahaha. I would HAVE to go with “I am pregnant.” or “I have a toddler”…. but the two woule be better together.. “I am pregnant and I have a 2 year old… BACK OFF.”
Too much??
October 15, 2008 at 7:17 am
My sign would say, No, I have not showered yet today. :)
Kims last blog post..Wordless Wednesday – Fall Fun
October 15, 2008 at 10:38 am
I’m completely fascinated by the sign!
As for my sign, I guess it might say, “I’m in a bad mood because I’ve moved 4 times in 6 years. Leave me alone.”
October 15, 2008 at 10:50 am
I’d look good in these jeans, but…
I have muffin top!
Heather, Queen of Shake Shakes last blog post..The most surreal thing happened on my way to becoming a writer
October 15, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Mine would say “I’m inherently lazy”
Kathleens last blog post..Why I Ran Tonight
October 16, 2008 at 2:55 pm
How funny is that! I love it! Could you just imagine having a different shirt for each feeling that we have or each situation in our life? It’s almost like our status update in Myspace. Good post! Thank you.
October 16, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Hmm…
Years ago mine would have been…(in reference to my son)
“He does NOT have ADHD, is NOT on medication, and it’s NONE of your &?!@# business.”
Scatteredmoms last blog post..Open Letter to Mr. Stephen Harper and John Weston.
October 16, 2008 at 11:59 pm
MY SIGN WOULD SAY, “NOT PREGNANT, JUST FAT”.
October 17, 2008 at 6:24 am
I think the sign should replace button flair. Seriously—it’s so “in your face”.
Your “I’m a Mother” sign is it. That says it all. In fact, the few times I do run to the grocery store without my son…(who IS my sign)…then, I get worried about wearing crocs with ankle socks and shorts and a ratty t-shirt. I want to say “hey, I’m about to workout after I use my t-shirt to wipe up spit-up and snot…what’s your excuse?”
Thanks for the post to make me smile on this rainy day!
Dollys last blog post..Calvin’s Bedtime Recipe
October 17, 2008 at 12:09 pm
What a great post. I’m still laughing. I agree, a sign would often help others understand our disposition/appearance.
Some days mine would read, “That’s right, I’m having a bad hair day, now quite staring”.
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Did You Pick Your Blog Niche Or Did It Pick You
October 17, 2008 at 8:29 pm
“No, no one hit me–I have dark circles because I have been up all night with my two year old.”
“It’s clean, it’s just been in the laundry basket for three days and I didn’t iron.”
This post made me smile. Thanks
Valeries last blog post..It’s Face Smearin’ Good
October 18, 2008 at 11:23 pm
I once saw a woman in downtown Vancouver holding a cardboard sign right about at her mouth that said “my chin fell off”. For real, not making this up, one of the wierdest things I’ve ever seen in my life. Unfortunately I was passing by on a bus and couldn’t take time to investigate. I’m grateful to have this place to share this tidbit of true life wierdness :p
:::::::::::: wife mom maniac ::::::::::::s last blog post..Real Estate Career and Family Life
October 19, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I love this idea. My problem is, I want a sign for everything. I want one that says “Slower traffic to the right” and one that says “My husband made me buy this car” and one that says “I only work here to pay the bills.” Maybe I need a large index card system.
bejewells last blog post..It’s What You Didn’t Become That Hurts
October 20, 2008 at 11:03 am
Mine would say:
“I’m “that” mom
You know the one that has two crying kids in the checkout, one son in the clothes rack, the other ‘lost’. The mom with the child in the middle of the isle in full tantrum mode, with 13 items in the 12 item or less line, just to get out of there quicker
Kims last blog post..Me too
October 21, 2008 at 5:32 am
That could also be a great warning sign for days when people (me) are best left alone…LOL.
Mine would probably read something like
‘APPROACH AT OWN RISK! PMS OVERLOAD!
Jakkis last blog post..
October 22, 2008 at 1:17 am
“full-time job, full-time student, and a two year old” or “am I wearing pants?” but probably “off my medication” would be the best way to get some peace…
‘cuz I’m the mommy, that’s whys last blog post..Adorable
October 22, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I think her sign is very sad, and reacting with disbelief and annoyance maybe isn’t the best. I mean, it’s like how dare she subvert our “blend and assimilate society?” Who knows what her story is? Is she mentally ill? Certainly, she’s reached some level of utter exhaustion, to the point she feels she needs to hang a cardboard sign around her neck. We can joke about our own signs, but how many of us would actually put one on? And how many of us would be truly honest about revealing what we’d really want a sign hung around our neck to say?
October 22, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Here in L.A. there would be several I’d wear:
I look like this because I was driving behind YOU
I don’t care who you know
I don’t care who you represent
I don’t care how powerful you are
and
No, I don’t know who you are.
In this town, Hollywood, it’s all about the bad driving and the name dropping
October 23, 2008 at 4:52 am
Loved this post! Mine would say”Do somthing so I can write about you!”
Terris last blog post..Finding Your Stories
October 23, 2008 at 1:41 pm
“I really don’t dress this way on purpose”
She should move here..we have so many asians who fear ..I don’t know..plague or something that wear those masks all the time.
October 24, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I had a teacher once with chemical sensitivities. She told us not to even wear deodorant on days that we had her class. One day she kicked us all out because one student had hair spray in her hair.
Shamelessly Sassys last blog post..The CryptKeeper
October 25, 2008 at 8:49 pm
My sign would say
(and as LOUDLY as I could write)
STOP LOOKING…yes, I am STILL wearing the same clothes I had on yesterday! And, YES, I DID sleep in them, too. I am a friggin’ mom, OK, I have three kids and I can’t be expected to get dressed EVERY single day, can I?!
Loved this post! Thank you!
My Semblance of Sanitys last blog post..7 Random Things MEME…with all NEW things…
October 26, 2008 at 1:34 pm
My sign in front would would say, “I’m an artist! Let me paint you a picture of how things are–”
My sign on my back would say,”I’m write!”
That sort of covers me. Artist and writer.
Judy Rey
October 26, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I think my sign would have to read : Mother of four; two girls, 18 and 15, and two boys, 13 and 39!
totaltrans1@gmail.com
http://thetotaltransformation.tumblr.com/
Total Transformation Programs last blog post..Lesson 1 of The Total Transformation
October 27, 2008 at 7:29 pm
mine would say, “Whatever you’re wondering about m…whatever make it ok…insert here_______________” either that or “Why do you ask?” my very, very favorite response to strangers who ask inappropriate questions. I love this post…I wish I had the courage to wear a sign some days like “Dangerous…engage at own risk.” “We all have crap…don’t give me any of yours.” “Havin’ a great day…don’t screw it up.”
Shelices last blog post..Soooo Close…
March 7, 2009 at 11:21 am
Mine would be….
‘You want me to do WHAT?’
‘I’m online 16hrs a day!’
And my personal favorite… I have a variation of this on my door…
‘Stop me in the street for anything other than an EMERGENCY and I will UNLOAD on you’