Today in the grocery store an 83 year-old Asian lady told me I looked great, like a granddaughter from California. She was wearing black and white pinstripe capris and a black and white graffiti abstract t-shirt with several long necklaces one of which was attached to her glasses. She had a ponytail that extended half the length of her entire body coming out of the back of her hat.

She guessed I was literally half my age. Was I married she asked upon hearing my actual age. No. She slapped my arm and congratulations good good don’t ever do it. Was I wearing makeup she asked? No. GOOD GREAT. You’re so pretty, you’re doing great, just get all the attention and everything you want from the men, live your life forever as a young pretty rich woman, don’t marry anyone. You can do whatever you want. I try to dress like that too but I’m 83, I’m not in California and everyone here is normal. But you keep doing it you’re so pretty, just keep everyone’s money. I was married for 5 years in the Air Force and now I teach karate even though I have a limp, do anything you want!

She was a little hard to understand in places but it was like the most validating interaction with another human I’ve ever had.

I saw her as I was checking out and she was getting a lottery ticket or something and I really wanted to stop her and ask to take a picture with her but I didn’t want to be creepy. I now regret not doing this because she was easily the coolest person I’ve met in this vicinity. Hopefully I’ll run into her again.