This really happened.
Today while getting an oil change I had a brief conversation with the guy working at the auto shop that made me ridiculously happy. Whenever I’m running errands that I think might involve any amount of sitting in waiting rooms I try to remember to bring some reading material along with me. Upon getting out of the car with my book, the auto shop guy noticed it and exclaimed dramatically in a tone of disgust and astonishment (direct quote):
“Atlas Shrugged?!?! Is that for pleasure?!?!”
Me (kind of laughing, yet trying to deflect as to avoid an awkward conversation): Um, not exactly. No it is not.
Auto Shop Guy (obviously restraining himself from saying anything he might regret, i.e. commenting his feelings on the book): Ugh! Good.
He went on helping me with car stuff for a few minutes, and then veered back to the topic of the book.
ASG: So what class is it for?
Me: Well, it’s not exactly for a class.
ASG (again looking astonished): Then why on earth are you reading it?
Me (again laughing and smiling): Because I know quite a few people who are lovers of Ayn Rand …
The look of horror on his face was epic!
Me: … and after being told so many times that just I don’t understand the delicate nuances of her philosophy and having it implied to me that “if you just read Atlas Shrugged you would understand,” I decided to finally read it. It’s kind of an intellectual exercise.
ASG (body language and facial expressions showing his disgust for the book, and completely stammering to not say something to a customer that he might regret): Wow. Um, yikes. Well. I could… no, I shouldn’t.
Me (now super-happy and continuing to laugh): Hey, it sounds like we agree on this topic!
ASG: Yes. Yes it does.
It made my day.
