Drive-by blessings

You know how there are some days where there are definite themes? Where things happen over and over and they're totally unrelated incidents but they all happen at once so it's weird and makes you look over your shoulder all the time? Like the weird looking semi-effeminate bald dude who I see in the subway all the time. And not on the same trains or at the same time of day, either.

Today's seemingly unrelated incidents are blessings. Not sneeze-induced blessings, but random ones, out of nowhere, for no reason. Today's examples:

1) When attempting to cross Columbus Circle this morning my eye catches this dude standing amidst construction. I didn't really think anything of it, I just figured he was standing there waiting for the light to change, too. But then he offers me a Mountain Dew. (I can think of nothing more revolting than Mountain Dew at 8:30 am on a Wednesday, but that's neither here nor there). I say, "oh, no thanks." And he goes, "No, problem, God bless you!!" I obviously hurry away, feeling freaked out by this unasked for invocation and rather wishing it hadn't happened. My mind immediately thought back to the time this summer when this crazy voodoo witch lady hexed me when I wouldn't give her a nickel. She proceeded to barrage me with some crazy prayer, much to my amusement. It didn't bother me. But...a prayer makes me go EW and scurry and a hex makes me laugh my ass off. Someone I don't know is forcing their deity and their beliefs onto me against my consent and as far as I'm concerned, it's offensive. Anyway, onto example number...

2) While going up the escalator in the mall in this belly of the way-uhl, I witnessed an interaction between a woman so poorly coiffed she could only be lost and a rather normal looking man about whether the bags he was carrying from Gracious Home were from inside this ridiculous establishment. He informed her that no, they weren't, indeed, the closest Gracious Home was on 67th Street. They lamented the distance (7 blocks, a shandah) and he got off the escalator. Upon his departure she yelled "GOD BLESS YOU!" Over some fucking directions.

So what is this with the blessings? Why do people feel the need to bless people who they don't know, over things which mean nothing at all? Do I have the right to be offended? To be unhappy about being blessed because I don't believe in god? That I'm being blessed without my consent? Indeed, if I were in a church, or synagogue and the clergy threw a blessing in my direction, I would understand; I was there willingly and therefore subjected myself to any potential protection that they would offer. But on the street? I just don't like it. I don't feel protected, I feel violated. Call me cynical, mean, hedonistic, but for Christ's sake, people, keep your blessings to yourselves!