I was on the commuter train into Manhattan and the guy next to me started clipping his nails. Usually I’m not shy about saying something when a person violates such a social norm, but the last time I came across someone conducting personal grooming in public, it almost exploded into a fist fight.
I was at the gym. I’d just completed a great workout and I walked into the steam room for a few minutes of heat and relaxation. What transpired next, occurred in a flash of discord, a sequence of emotional reactions.
My gym has a cozy steam, it’s tight when four people are in there. An older man sat just a few feet away, flossing. The steam blurs everything and at first I assumed I had it wrong, but no, he was a Sauna Flosser.
I shut my eyes and tried to ignore him, but the sound of floss sawing between teeth was too loud.
I wanted to say something, but what do you say? Instead, I shook my head and walked out mumbling, “This is unbelievable.”
As the door shut behind me, I heard the guy cry out, “Asshole.”
Anger bubbled inside my belly. I could not … Read the rest
