I just experienced one of my stranger social interactions.
You know how, when you’re on the train or bus or something like that, you might make eye contact with a stranger in the reflection of the window?
Imagine that, but on steroids.
On the train today, in the reflection of the window, I noticed the girl sitting in front of me was using a tiny mirror to put eyeliner on. Pretty strange—never really seen that done on the train before, but who knows? Maybe she’s in a rush.
(Note: the seats on the LIRR work like a school bus, so the girl in front of me is facing the same direction as me.) The mirror kept rising higher and higher as the minutes passed. At a certain point, it was about 6 inches above the top of her head. I thought this was a bit ridiculous, so I turned my head to peek, solely out of curiosity.
Sure enough, I see one giant eye staring at me through the mirror while she applies makeup to the lower eyelid.
As I look, I see her eye catch my eye. We’re in a showdown now.
Out of mortifying discomfort, I quickly look away, but the mirror doesn’t move an inch.
A few seconds later, I’m thinking to myself, “there’s no way she’s still staring at me, right?” So, I sneak another peek to double check that she’s returned to applying makeup so I can relax without thinking someone’s watching me.
Yet again, I see her giant eye staring at me through the reflection of her mini-mirror, this time not even applying makeup—just using the mirror to stare at me, almost as if to threaten me. Believe you me, this was not a flirtatious stare. This was a DEATH stare.
This went on for some time.
I’d look away for a couple seconds, notice in my peripherals that the mirror still hadn’t moved, casually glance to see if she was still staring at me, turn away (slightly embarrassed), and then repeat, each time being more surprised (and almost impressed at her consistency).
I finally had to switch train cars.
Couldn’t take it anymore.
Until next time,
Michael J. Erickson, CEO & Co-Founder
