Stopped by Lowe's on the way home from work this afternoon to pick up my Father's Day present, a portable A/C so I won't have to sweat my butt off in the garage doing my reloading. I parked in the Veterans parking area (we have 6 spots), went in got my a/c and was loading it in my work truck. Just as I was finishing, a small suv pulled into the Veteran's spot directly in front of me. The woman driving said something directed at me when she opened the door, but the only word I could make out was "Veteran." I took a couple of steps in her direction, really without thinking, and said "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you." I'm not sure, but I think her husband in the passenger seat went for a IWB pistol, as I saw him pivot a little and reach behind him as he was stepping out of the car. Can't be sure and never saw anything, but I did realize my action of stepping in their direction may have seemed threatening. I took a couple steps back and she repeated what she had originally said: "You had better be a Veteran." My response was: "Why would you think I wasn't? I assure you that I am." I guess I was feeling a little froggy and added: "Do I need to prove it to you?" Her husband, obviously a former Marine, decked out in Marine t-shirt and NRA hat, didn't seem too happy about it and remarked about me being in a company work truck. I replied that I didn't see how that made me any less of a Veteran and if they had an issue with it, I offered to give them my bosses number and they could take it up with him. They just turned and started walking to the front door of the store. I finished bungee cording my a/c down and walked around to my drivers door to get in. Still feeling just a tad froggy, I saw that they were still a few feet from the front door and I yelled out in their direction "Jarhead." Boy that struck a nerve! He spun around and yelled very loudly "You're a (can't use words like that here, but he called me a copulating tip of the male sex organ.)" Whoa! Right there in a Lowe's parking lot with Moms and kids around. He walked on in and I let it go, and I actually got a little laugh out of it. He was really mad that I parked in a Veteran's spot in a work truck and ready to fight about it, I think. We all seemed to be about the same age, I'm 58. It wasn't like I was some smart butt kid parking his thumper mobile in a Veteran's spot and saying "Hey Boomer, go pound sand."
Ok...I've two questions for the Veterans here, particularly the Marines. First is it actually derogatory to call a Marine a Jarhead? My Dad was a Marine, I grew up around Marines and I have a lot of friends that were Marines. I called all of them Jarheads, and still do. To me it's like being called a Swabbie. Navy guys are Swabbies, Marines are Jarheads. Always been that way. Secondly, do you think I was wrong to park a work vehicle in the Veteran's parking? I was off the clock on a personal errand and parked there just as I would have if I was in my personal vehicle. I don't park there if I'm picking up job supplies during the day because the contractors parking is more convenient for loading. Anyway I was a little taken aback by the guys hostile attitude. Ok rant over and my blood pressure is back to normal
Ok...I've two questions for the Veterans here, particularly the Marines. First is it actually derogatory to call a Marine a Jarhead? My Dad was a Marine, I grew up around Marines and I have a lot of friends that were Marines. I called all of them Jarheads, and still do. To me it's like being called a Swabbie. Navy guys are Swabbies, Marines are Jarheads. Always been that way. Secondly, do you think I was wrong to park a work vehicle in the Veteran's parking? I was off the clock on a personal errand and parked there just as I would have if I was in my personal vehicle. I don't park there if I'm picking up job supplies during the day because the contractors parking is more convenient for loading. Anyway I was a little taken aback by the guys hostile attitude. Ok rant over and my blood pressure is back to normal
