I hate complaining because I know folks in other parts of the country (and the world) have had it much worse, but it’s been hot lately. Summer was a bit delayed and short last year, but not so in 2026. It’s been in the early 90s most days. I recently started working again (that’s a long story; I may get to it later), and I’ve been in a warehouse during the day. It’s big, and it’s busy. There are a few ceiling fans above some of the aisles, but not all of them. I was told the last week of the month is typically the busiest at the company, and that’s been the case here. When I get home in the evening I am tired and sweaty. I’ve been taking two showers a day, one when I wake up in the morning and one before I got to bed at night.

Yesterday, I went to my mother’s house. I pay her the monthly rent for my house, which she owns, plus I took her to run some errands and go shopping since she doesn’t have a car. But what was different was when I went to the ATM to get cash for her, which I did first. It was early in the morning and there was one woman at one of the two ATMs at the bank, each next to each other. For the record, she was a White woman, maybe in her 30s (but I’m not great at guessing people’s ages). I’ve done this a ton of times at different banks. When I see another person, especially a woman, alone like that, I step back. Out of habit, I do this. It’s early and can be a little dark, no one else is around, I stand back and make sure the person has space as they access their account and get or deposit their money.

We’re usually talking about a few minutes here, when they’re done, I walk up and do my business, it’s no hassle at.

Except this time, as I was standing there, I saw the woman randomly turn in my direction and pointed to the other ATM and told me out loud that “that one’s free.”

So she thought I was standing because I didn’t know the other ATM was working.

I was a little surprised, and just said thanks and went to use the other ATM. It may seem like nothing, but the reason I’m writing about it is because, in all honesty, I was a little surprised because she wasn’t scared or nervous around me. I mean, I know I’m safe, but she wouldn’t know that for sure.

It made me think of how I’ve changed, and I guess it’s changed how others perceive me. I know that other folks have faced worse suspicion than me. But I have had my moments. Like I wrote about being stopped for Walking While Black. And yes, I’ve had more instances like that in my life, which I just haven’t written about. So what’s different? Well, I was younger then.

Now I’m. . .older. I guess it’s been so long that I’ve been aware of the probability of being seen as the potentially scary young Black male, that it’s taken a while to accept that those days are not as prevalent. Now I’m just the Safe Old Man that women have no fear of? If given the choice, more women would prefer to encounter me in the woods, rather than a bear?!?

I guess I should be happy about that. Now I’m gonna take some Ibuprofen PM pills so I can get some sleep tonight.