What’s your sign?
There are certain things I don’t do anymore with my responsibilities in the industry and community. I don’t wear my “No thanks, I’m practicing” shirt and I surely can’t be rude to people when they insist on trying to play a game with me when I’m in the midst of practicing. I swear, they look at me like I must be kidding when I tell them I’d rather practice alone than play with them. Most of them are so presumptuous that they’re already pulling balls out of the pocket as they’re asking me to play.
At any rate, I feel a slight obligation to be a little more patient with people than I used to. The faux-band on my ring finger and the earphones help to deter most of them, but sometimes, they just don’t get it.
True story:
An odd fellow whom I’d conversed with a few weeks ago, subtly tried to get my attention a couple times throughout my practice session on Sunday night. I was deeply focused and was not about to stop and have a lengthy conversation with him. I gave him the soft “hello” gesture and kept on. Most people understand and are very respectful of this. Him, on the other hand…
On about his third attempt, I guess he finally couldn’t take it anymore. While in mid-stroke, he approached my table and said, “Sammi, Sammi, I’m sorry to interrupt you. I just had to ask you something really important… What’s your sign?”
WHAT??!??? Seriously?!??? To which I responded, “I’m still a Gemini, just like the last time you asked me,” I said, wondering why that was even worth me taking my earphones out. As I began to put them back in, he adds, “May or June?” “June,” I said.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of him. He would return about 45 minutes later with money in hand thinking that would entice me to stop my drills and play a game with him. When I explained that I was in the middle of something and that I only had a very limited amount of time on this particular evening and wanted to maximize my practice time, he was completely put off and even asked if I was in a bad mood.
Wow… I just don’t understand people sometimes…
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I remember once when I was out practicing by myself, the pool hall was pretty empty and I was listeningn to my iPod. Now, I don’t leave it on very loud, but when people approach me, I just pretend I don’t hear them. This one time this guy came up to me to make sure I saw him so I could talk to him. He asked if I wanted to play. I said I was just practicing alone and getting ready to leave in a little bit, but thanks. About 10 minutes later, this woman approaches me and asks me if I would be interested in playing with anyone. I explained to her that I was just practicing for a tournament coming up and that I prefer to play alone. She said she understood and since she knew all the rest of the guys in the pool hall, she would explain that to them so they would leave me alone.