Green dress, Green Peace

My mother and I went to see Eat Pray Love today, and I quite enjoyed it.  Now, I want to go on vacation with Javier Bardem.

We then went to return the many DVDs we had rented from the video store.  As I was walking along to meet my mom, who was throwing away her regretfully empty Junior Mints box, I saw two young women standing on the sidewalk, holding flyers.  My first thought was "Dear God, let me out of here."

There is little more awkward to me than those folks who hawk products or causes on the sidewalks, and you really could care less what they have to say, yet you still have to talk to them because they DO NOT LET YOU PASS otherwise.  One of them approached my mother, and swear words ran through my head as I rolled my eyes to myself and walked forward.  Why didn't I just stand still and wait?  Why?  I have no idea.  Perhaps part of it was the fact that I didn't want them to influence where I went... I can walk wherever I damn well please at our weird, tiny strip mall.

But, of course, as I approached, I couldn't help but make eye contact with one of them, and she, in all her  blonde confidence and straightforwardness, came at me saying, "Green dress, Green Peace. Let's talk."  Actually, I would call my dress teal.  But whatever.  Luckily, my mom reached me at that point, and I grabbed her arm, turning away from the woman, saying, "Sorry... I can't, I've got to go...."  Do nothing.  Ignore you.  Do they expect to endear themselves to people by marching up to them like that and forcing them into conversation?  Maybe it's supposed to intimidate them and leave them without an opportunity to leave.  I however, think it a tactic beyond annoying.  Why can't they just set up a booth and wait for those who are interested to come, instead of trying to snag all of the people who are mentally screaming at them out of fear and frustration?