.... to balk at request from (grown up) colleague/friend in local eco group that DH and I dress up in green garbs, wear garlands of leaves/flowers and hand out flowery things to passers by in our town to promote an event that's coming up. 'Well', said she, when I said I'd be a mite self-conscious, 'you can always wear a wig. I bought some.' I, perhaps stupidly, but I didn't know how to put it, said that I thought that dressing up in this sort of bucolic way (this is a fairly urban area) was perhaps great for smaller kids but that it wouldn't be quite me - but I'd be delighted to help in other ways ie turn up as myself.
She said something about us all being colour coded and ended the conversation in a huff.
I felt awkward - she works very hard for the group - and I sent her an email explaining that I didn't mean to cause offence but that I knew that I'd uncomfortable and self-conscious - especially as I feel a bit out of kilter in this town (it's rather posh - and I'm not). I didn't write, but perhaps I could have, that maybe putting out feelers before buying wigs, making flowers, etc etc might have been an idea and, especially this, effectively excluding people who simply want to turn up and help but not dress up is exclusive - something our organization works hard not to be.
To sound so put out - why this a kind of moral blackmail on my friend's part or am I being an arsehole but not going along with it even though I know I'd feel like a prat - and - and this is relevant - this has been a very difficult month for me for all sorts of reasons and I want some peace ...