Mad Face

I received a phone call the other day from a colleague who saw me walking down the 16^th Street Mall.  In his voice mail, he stated I was “so serious, in fact I almost looked mad”.  This is the second time in recent months that I have heard that my normal, unsmiling face makes me look mad.  The other person even noted, “I thought you didn’t like me for the longest time”.  While I will admit I have been known to flare up or throw a temper tantrum from time to time (especially after too much whiskey), it is something I am trying to reign in.  When I’m on the mall, I’m focusing on not being harassed by beggars or douche bags (or douche bag beggars—I’m looking at you Greenpeace jerk offs who think that an obnoxious wave and a “come here, do you like the environment” comment is gonna get me to subscribe); and I’m also trying not to get the heel of my shoe stuck in between the tiles on the mall (that shit will RUIN a pair of heels).  And maybe the combination of that along with the fact that people need to watch the fuck where they are going makes me look a little angry.  Rightly so-and I get it (and fine, maybe I am actually a little bit annoyed).  But what is it about people that think that just because I’m not smiling, I must be mad/something must be wrong with me?  I ran into another colleague on the mall who said, “I saw you walking the other morning but you had your headphones in and didn’t see me, so I didn’t want to interrupt.  You also looked really upset.  Is everything alright?”.  Yes, thank you, everything is just fine.  While I appreciate your concern/criticism, it’s JUST THE WAY MY FACE LOOKS.  Now back off before I get fucking mad.