I was just at Lowe's on East State Street getting lumber together for a woodworking project I'm doing later today with a group of teenage girls. I was trying to get it all done in time to make it to the farmer's market before it closed, so I was moving quickly and with a mission, rolling my cart full of boards sticking every which way to the cashier's area, when the man who was last in line looked up from rearranging his bags of concrete, and immediately said, obviously without thinking about it at all, "You are just gorgeous!" I probably smiled that uncomfortable, inappropriate smile, but I was clearly shrinking away and trying to cover myself and seem invisible. He did notice that, but he didn't care AND JUST KEPT GOING! I didn't say anything, and the next thing that he said was, "I'm sorry, I don't mean to upset you. Where are you from? Do you live around Athens?" I just furrowed my brow and said, "I'm sorry, but I just don't think this is an appropriate conversation for strangers." He said sorry, looked embarrassed, and turned away from me. Luckily another cashier's station opened and I was able to rush up to it and get away from this awkward situation a little quicker, but not without walking into his line of vision again. The hair on the back of my neck was bristling as I handed the cashier my money, and I ran out of there so quickly that I left one of my bags behind and had to come back for it later. I wished I hadn't apologized. It was only me who deserved an apology.
Happened on September 7, 2013
Incident reported by target
Bystander Action? No
Harassment Types: Sexual