This woman (complete stranger) just went  off on me.

While at a family-oriented environment, with my twelve-year old daughter sitting at the table with me - me, hyper-focused, knitting. And my daughter, studious. Completing her academics.

We were both seated at a small, rounded table near the entrance of the facility. All our bags, books, yarn, laptop, tablet, phones, lunches, water bottles, etc. were neatly piled on top of the table we were utilizing. I sat in one chair, my daughter in the other. Also, I had additional bags on a third chair (I saw that there were numerous available chairs nearby just in case some one needed seating).

We were there, enjoying our day together. Productively & peacefully doing what we normally do. Suddenly, here comes this woman. With her energy, "are you using this chair?" Barely looking up, as I was very focused (trying to comprehend cabled knit hat pattern I was reading), "yes", I responded.

She spoke again, sternly, "well, can't you put your bags on the floor?" Me, not paying attention really, somewhat passively, "where will I put them?" Again, I wasn't thoroughly in-tuned to what was going on really. I felt her energy but didn't feed it. I was preoccupied with my child and my yarn & needles.

Prior to sitting, I figured there where plenty of available seats (same exact chairs) adjacently stacked. But, for some reason, this woman must have wanted the chair "my bags" were on. Sigh!

When I mindlessly asked that woman "where will I put them", and why did I do that. Hugely present by this time,  angrily she griped, "well, can't you put them on the floor?!" Confused, but unmoved, I uttered, "I'd prefer not to" assuming incorrectly that she'd eventually keep it moving.

The she was, in my face (literally) now, attempting to intimidate, "you know these chairs are not here for what you are using them for. You should be a better example to your child!"

Continued with my face down, knitting. Aware of the type of nature this woman was demonstrating, I carefully removed my bags and scooted the chair toward her.

Yelling crazily by this time (mind you, this was a mature woman with her two tween boys next to her judging the example "I" was setting), "I don't want the chair now. You should have just gave it to me when I asked for it. You are a poor example to your daughter..."

This woman whom I've never ever seen in my life, who does not know if that was my daughter or not, went completely berserk in public with a lobby full of people (adults and small children).

Intuitively, I knew not to acknowledge her. To remain quiet. Be still. Nothing at that moment coming out of my mouth may have come out productively. Let this moment pass.

Eventually the woman walked away, her voice fading deeper into the busy lobby. Soon as it was clear, I glanced toward my daughter. Asking if the woman and her child were out of sight.

My stunned, assertive daughter began to say, "mom, the woman was right. You should have just gave her the chair in the beginning". My reply was, "it was her approach, her demeanor. And before I knew what was going on, she was going off on me". I went on to say, "whatever that was had absolutely nothing to do with me or the chair". I instructed my daughter, "learn from this. Have compassion. We don't know what that woman is going through. Nor does she know what we may be going through".

We both sat there speechless. Mood interrupted, but temporarily. Quickly, we proceeded to do what we were doing before that tornado came through. The air was clearing. We took bites of our lunches. Sips of our water. Carried on as if nothing happened. Later, as we continued to sit in the same spot, curious, I asked my daughter, "what did you learn from that experience?"

I told her to keep an eye out. Eventually the woman has to exit past us. Be sure not to stare but be aware. You never want some volatile person approaching without warning.

Sure enough, the woman came out. Had to walk past us again. Calmly, I kept my head down. Still knitting, but not submissively. This time, I was watching an instructional YouTube video of the pattern I was initially following. Was wearing headphones.

To my surprise, the woman didn't glare or exit angrily. She did quite the opposite. She peacefully and politely approached me. Got in my face again, but tenderly.  Looked me straight in the eye with a sincerity, "excuse me, I'm sorry" she said. Shocked, but I but careful not to show it.

I removed my headphones, raised my tilted head, not thinking of what else to say, I acknowledged her gesture. "Thank you", I said minus emotion. Then she left. Boys in tow. Air, even clearer.

Once she was gone, my daughter and I looked at each other. "Wow" we both said. I immediately asked, "what did you learn from that whole experience honey?" That was a good lesson. What an experience. In the end, my daughter, those boys learned from the woman and I both that day.