I just returned with the family on vacation. No really big S&T incidents, save one on the way home passing through East Texas(1).
Circumstances
Wife, kids (2.5YO son & 16MO daughter), & I(2) are leaving McDonalds for the jfruser-mobile. When I had parked, there were no vehicles in adjacent spaces, as is my preference, due to the chore of getting kids in car seats.
As we near the vehicle, I see that our vehicle is framed by two others and that there is a group talking beside the right-hand vehicle. The group consisted of a mid-late 30s black woman (BW1), a late30s/early 40s white woman (WW1), a mid 20s white man (WM1), and a mid 20s black woman (BW2) in a McD uniform. There were several children about, ranging form infancy to 4-5 YO. They were a mixture of black & mulatto.
I get my daughter secured on the driver's side. I am quicker than my wife, due to size & strength. As I finished, I hear the conversation PICK UP IN VOLUME, quite a bit(3). I walk to the rear of the vehicle to keep an eye on the group and notice the loudest speaker to be BW1. My wife is having problems getting our son strapped in, as can happen on occasion(4). I keep an eye on the group, looking for signs of any brewing foolishness. The conversation seems to concern liquor & local politics, but I am less interested in the words than the tones and facial expressions.
BW1 is causing most of the ruckus, which is directed at WW1. BW2 and WM1 are following the argument while the kids look like they'd rather be running through the McD play area.
Unexpectedly, WM1 tears his concentration from the BW1/WW1 conversation and asks me, "You gotta problem?" The conversation stops and all attention (save the kids') is on me.
I quash my initial instinct to respond with a wisecrack and decide the truth is likely the most likely to keep their group focused on each other & not my family. "Just waiting for my wife to put the kid in the car seat," I respond with a grin on my face.
They go back to their loud debate and my wife finishes strapping in our son. We then leave the McD's for points West.
Notes, Assumptions, Etc.
When out & about with my family I am more observant of my surroundings than when by myself. I know that if trouble comes to us, we can not run from it and must deal with it in place. That being the case, I want some early warning. So, I am at the proverbial Condition Yellow when in public with family. I can only do so for a limited time, though keeping tabs on toddlers is good practice.
When the above occurred, I was getting tired & got lazy. If I were less whipped, I would have been less obvious in my observation.
(1) East Texas has a reputation similar to that of North Georgia with regard to race relations: not so good. The current reality may be different, but the reputation remains.
(2) I am armed with a classic combo: Full-sized 1911 IWB & snubby in pocket, for those who care about the hardware aspect.
(3) IME, I have found those who converse loudly in public (with no need for increased volume) to be much more likely to initiate some sort of violence & foolishness.
(4) I can not really help her, as the door opening is too small for the both of us.
Circumstances
Wife, kids (2.5YO son & 16MO daughter), & I(2) are leaving McDonalds for the jfruser-mobile. When I had parked, there were no vehicles in adjacent spaces, as is my preference, due to the chore of getting kids in car seats.
As we near the vehicle, I see that our vehicle is framed by two others and that there is a group talking beside the right-hand vehicle. The group consisted of a mid-late 30s black woman (BW1), a late30s/early 40s white woman (WW1), a mid 20s white man (WM1), and a mid 20s black woman (BW2) in a McD uniform. There were several children about, ranging form infancy to 4-5 YO. They were a mixture of black & mulatto.
I get my daughter secured on the driver's side. I am quicker than my wife, due to size & strength. As I finished, I hear the conversation PICK UP IN VOLUME, quite a bit(3). I walk to the rear of the vehicle to keep an eye on the group and notice the loudest speaker to be BW1. My wife is having problems getting our son strapped in, as can happen on occasion(4). I keep an eye on the group, looking for signs of any brewing foolishness. The conversation seems to concern liquor & local politics, but I am less interested in the words than the tones and facial expressions.
BW1 is causing most of the ruckus, which is directed at WW1. BW2 and WM1 are following the argument while the kids look like they'd rather be running through the McD play area.
Unexpectedly, WM1 tears his concentration from the BW1/WW1 conversation and asks me, "You gotta problem?" The conversation stops and all attention (save the kids') is on me.
I quash my initial instinct to respond with a wisecrack and decide the truth is likely the most likely to keep their group focused on each other & not my family. "Just waiting for my wife to put the kid in the car seat," I respond with a grin on my face.
They go back to their loud debate and my wife finishes strapping in our son. We then leave the McD's for points West.
Notes, Assumptions, Etc.
When out & about with my family I am more observant of my surroundings than when by myself. I know that if trouble comes to us, we can not run from it and must deal with it in place. That being the case, I want some early warning. So, I am at the proverbial Condition Yellow when in public with family. I can only do so for a limited time, though keeping tabs on toddlers is good practice.
When the above occurred, I was getting tired & got lazy. If I were less whipped, I would have been less obvious in my observation.
(1) East Texas has a reputation similar to that of North Georgia with regard to race relations: not so good. The current reality may be different, but the reputation remains.
(2) I am armed with a classic combo: Full-sized 1911 IWB & snubby in pocket, for those who care about the hardware aspect.
(3) IME, I have found those who converse loudly in public (with no need for increased volume) to be much more likely to initiate some sort of violence & foolishness.
(4) I can not really help her, as the door opening is too small for the both of us.
