My daughter is at the gym waiting for her class to start. Standing next to her, also waiting, is her lifelong friend. A lady, also standing with a group of friends, waiting, points to my daughter and says, "You. You." My daughter is perplexed.
"You are so cute, we all want you to date our sons," the lady says.
My daughter takes the compliment in stride but she's dying because her friend is standing right next to her during the exchange. And no one pointed at her and demanded her to date her son.
Awareness. Lack of awareness. I have no doubt that the lady meant well, but in her forthrightness, she compounded the feelings of a girl my daughter loves and understands. And she understood that the lady's lack of awareness brought pain-which brought pain to her-which negated any compliment. And any chance she would ever date the lady's son.