So would this creep you out or is it a nice gesture?

[ohyouknow]

Yesterday at work this happened:

(Background: I wear a military uniform, but work in a civilian office building not near enough to a base to have military members common seen, so the few of us here really stand out.)  At lunch I took the elevator downstairs and walked a block away to Subway, got a sandwich and drink, and was walking back. About 1/2 a block from my building I heard "Ma'am, ma'am!" I kept walking.  Then I heard "ma'am, ma'am" again, and turn around. There was a man about 50 years old walking quickly towards me.  He said his name was Mike, and it was nice to meet me, and stuck out his hand. I had both my hands full and didn't feel like shaking a stranger's hand on the street, so I told him my hands were full and I couldn't. He said okay, then said he wanted to give something to me. He held up a big bouquet of red roses.  I told him I couldn't accept that and he insisted.  I took them and he said something else about wanting to give them to me, and I just said thank you and started walking back in my building. He didn't follow me. I work in a secure building behind two swipe doors and guards that physically look at every ID before we swipe in, so Roses Guy won't be showing up in my office.

It felt very weird to me. I gave the roses to a paralegal I work with so he could give them to his girlfriend because they creeped me out. Last night I told my husband about it and how I felt bad if I was just totally an asshole to someone who might have been doing something like random acts of kindness or paying it forward.  My husband is now convinced I shouldn't wear my uniform outside at all, change in my office and only bring lunch to eat at my desk. 

So what say you, Military Families board? Am I an asshole or is Roses Guy weird?

[meltoine]

Did he say anything about why he gave them to you? Like specifically to thank you for your service? If yes, over the top but not creepy. If no, definitely creepy.

[ohyouknow]

No, nothing like that. And they were RED ROSES. I guess that is the weirdest part to me. The closest place to buy something like that is about 5-6 blocks away.

[meltoine]

Creepy.

[G22]

I vote creepy.

[JakJak]

That's creepy

[pesci]

Yeah, that's creepy.

[audette]

Creepy.

One time incident, I probably wouldn't modify my typical routines (ie: like changing into your uniform at work), but I'd be keeping my eyes out for roses guy...

[amaristella]

Sept 16, 2014 11:56:39 GMT -5 Stan said:

I wouldn't want them because he wouldn't give them to one of my male counterparts, but I've turned into a hardcore feminist of late. I also am uncomfortable when people try and buy me lunch or breakfast (which happened a lot at training in GA) because I don't feel deserving yet. You actually deserve a thanks, but I think flowers from some random aren't the right kind. I've also watched a lot of stalker shows on Discovery ID, and that sounds like stalkery behavior.

It can happen without your knowing or having any recourse. Dh has a project to manage on another island. So he went over there one day and went out to lunch after. Someone picked up his check and didn't say anything. He only found out when he asked for his check. He was mad. I told him he has to accept these things when they happen because nobody is going to follow him to the desert and buy his lunch there. If that makes any sense.

[audette]

Sept 16, 2014 22:37:32 GMT -5 amaristella said:

Sept 16, 2014 11:56:39 GMT -5 Stan said:

I wouldn't want them because he wouldn't give them to one of my male counterparts, but I've turned into a hardcore feminist of late. I also am uncomfortable when people try and buy me lunch or breakfast (which happened a lot at training in GA) because I don't feel deserving yet. You actually deserve a thanks, but I think flowers from some random aren't the right kind. I've also watched a lot of stalker shows on Discovery ID, and that sounds like stalkery behavior.

It can happen without your knowing or having any recourse. Dh has a project to manage on another island. So he went over there one day and went out to lunch after. Someone picked up his check and didn't say anything. He only found out when he asked for his check. He was mad. I told him he has to accept these things when they happen because nobody is going to follow him to the desert and buy his lunch there. If that makes any sense.

DH had this happen a couple times (on the way home for R&R, actually).  And, similarly, it wasn't even offered to him, he simply found out when he asked for his check that someone else had picked up the tab.

DH ended up basically paying it forward to the server - he still paid what he figured he would have owed for the meal, but it all became a tip for the server.  It made him feel better about it.

[audette]

Sept 16, 2014 23:33:50 GMT -5 Stan said:

Sept 16, 2014 23:05:57 GMT -5 audette said:

DH had this happen a couple times (on the way home for R&R, actually).  And, similarly, it wasn't even offered to him, he simply found out when he asked for his check that someone else had picked up the tab.

DH ended up basically paying it forward to the server - he still paid what he figured he would have owed for the meal, but it all became a tip for the server.  It made him feel better about it.

That's what I did too. The server got a ginormous tip. It took some convincing to get the guys with me to do the same (because shocker Army OCs are dicks), but I guilted them. It was a good day for the server!

Oh, sadness... Not all Army OC's are dicks, I promise...

[ohyouknow]

Stan....I know it was you. ;-) Crazy Army mofo's. ;-)

[ohyouknow]

Sept 17, 2014 9:15:18 GMT -5 Stan said:

Sept 17, 2014 7:34:51 GMT -5 ohyouknow said:

Stan....I know it was you. ;-) Crazy Army mofo's. ;-)

There are many people on this board who can confirm I'm a 29 year old female with a man's name. Swear it wasn't me! Lol.

Hahahaha!

[amaristella]

Sept 17, 2014 9:15:18 GMT -5 Stan said:

Sept 17, 2014 7:34:51 GMT -5 ohyouknow said:

Stan....I know it was you. ;-) Crazy Army mofo's. ;-)

There are many people on this board who can confirm I'm a 29 year old female with a man's name. Swear it wasn't me! Lol.

I have met Stan in person. She's probably also in one or more of my high school yearbooks.