On the weekends, we like to go to Panera Bread for a nice breakfast in the early mornings. We enjoying saying hello to the regulars and chatting with them briefly. However, one elderly gentleman has breached my limit for patience. (Those who know me know that I'll talk to anyone and am usually incredibly patient). This man is in his upper 80s and is an artist.
Many weekends as soon as we sit down with our breakfast and/or newspaper and discuss what we're going to do during the day or read the news to each other. It's a great, relaxing way to start the day. However, when this man comes over, he pulls up a chair, sits down and starts talking and handing us photos of his paintings. This has been going on for more than 2 years. He brags about how great he is, and his paintings are in various public places. We've even gone to an art show to show him support, but he doesn't know when to stop talking about himself (yes, even at 87 or whatever he is)- and he usually keeps us for 45 mins to an HOUR!
This morning, we arrived at Panera as usual (early) and our friend Steve joined us. That didn't stop this painter from pulling up a chair and starting to hand out photos of his paintings again with our friend sitting there. I wasn't even at the table yet. Tom didn't know what to say, but I did. I said "Excuse me, but we're here with our friend and we'd really like to spend time with him. I think it would be rude not to do so. We can look at your pictures another time." Yeah, I was firm, but I was pissed! How totally rude this egotistical, selfish man was to decide he was going to be the center of all our attention WITHOUT asking if he could sit with us! Yes, it's unlike me. The rest of the story is that his elder girlfriend works at Panera, too, but he treats her like crap, and says that "she's a bother" and infers that she's useless to him, when she takes care of this nasty man.
I told Tom that I don't have the patience to deal with nasty, selfish, egotistical people like this man. Unfortunately, even at 87, he hasn't learned to be nice and unconditionally love others. How sad for him.
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