I just got hassled by a panhandler on my way into Target. He called me beautiful and then told me I needed to smile more to make more friends, all while shaking his cup of coins at me.

Do you know how many times I have been told by strange men that I need to smile more? This sort of shit used to happen all the time when I lived in New York City. Constantly. It was background noise to sidewalk life and I just ignored it completely. I did not smile more.

But I’ve been living in Minnesota too long and I’m not used to this anymore and what I really wanted to do was tell him to fuck right off but I didn’t because the stupid second amendment means I never know who has a gun. Also I probably shouldn’t start shit with big crazy men on the street.

I left Target through the other door so I could avoid him on my way out. And fuck you, I’m still not smiling.