One bad apple

I do need to vent about one small incident that happened at the race. This is a Southern thing we don't experience anymore in the North west or at least rarely does it happen anymore. North Carolina is tobacco country. Smoking is pretty common still. They smoke at the track.

In front of us, before the race started a man lit up. I asked if he could put out his cigarette as the children behind him were immune compromised. "Of course" he said kindly. I bought him a beer when I went to get one for Tom as a thank you. He returned the favor later.

The two women sitting behind Justin's family were not as nice. They refused to put out their cigarettes even after I explained these children were sick. They made it a point to keep their cigarettes constantly lit. Blowing smoke right at Justin's family. Holding the cigarettes barely inches from the seats. One woman also kept her feet up on the chairs. I told the people sitting on both sides that these women that they would not put out their cigarettes for our sick children. They all claimed not to know the women.

I was so upset. Justin's family had to get up and leave. He came back later and sat at the far end of our row with Nathan's family protecting him, but his mother and grandmother had left for good. Chased away by the insensitivity of the women sitting behind us.

Nathan's Mom called her ex sitting in a different location to come join us. He was a big man and sat right down in front of those smokers. The cigarettes went out and one of the women left shortly and did not return. I only wished I had gotten a security guard. I was kind of stuck in the middle of the row, but I still should have made the effort. I was as close to a brawl as I could get. Tom was oblivious with his head set on and the boys on his far side away from the issue.

Nathan's mom paid me the compliment later of saying she was impressed that I would defend a stranger's child so vigorously. She wouldn't want to mess with my own boys if that was what I do for strangers.

You had better believe it. I called myself a tiger once when it comes to defense of my children. But that doesn't mean I wont acknowledge my children's flaws or not make them behave to the best of my abilities.

It was a good thing that woman left when Nathan's Dad arrived because I was in a mood to call her out if she had still been sitting there. I was furious she had chased a boy with cancer and his family away from his special night. I sat and cried for a while losing interest in the race.

I am sure Amy would have handled it had she still been at the track, but after her night with Danial's family she was exhausted and had cut out early before these women lit up. Amy said usually if she runs into smokers like this she gets out masks for the kids so the smokers get the point. Then she calls security if that doesn't work. I had gotten the impression from Tom that smoking was OK and I didn't have much redress. It turns out that even if there were lots of smokers in their seat, they are supposed to leave their seats and smoke outside the stadium.

It wouldn't have been so bad if they hadn't been sitting right behind Justin and his family. And then to be so rude. I still want to hit someone over it. Tom told me not to let it taint our experience. They were so evil, though. I wondered if they targeted Justin because he was with women who could not defend themselves and Hispanic. Next time I am getting security and not letting bullies win.

Thank goodness Justin came back and was able to join Nathan's family for the rest of the race. I do feel good though that at least I tried and in the end we all did chase the B..... away. Just not soon enough.