In this world where everything is so over crowded and personal space is at a minimum, is it too much to ask that strangers not invade what little bit of personal space we have? What I am talking about is when you are walking along, minding your own business, maybe thinking about the day or things you want or need to get done and then, out of the blue, some stranger shouts a happy "Good Morning" to you.
Now don't get me wrong. I am a morning person. But I share that with people I know. I'm not rude to people and if I happen to make eye contact with someone while walking along I am more than willing to give the courteous good morning nod and smile or even say "Good Morning".
What irritates me is to have a "Good Morning" thrown at you from out of left field. When I go to work I have to walk down long hallways to get from the door to my work station. My day starts very early so usually the hallways are fairly empty. I can either walk down the entire length of the building in which case the entrance to the cafeteria is at about the half way mark. I like to walk that way because the elevator is at the end and I can ride up to my floor. Or I can walk about a third of the way down the hall and take the steps to the next floor and then complete the walk down another hallway the rest of the way to my work station.
I get to work right before the cafeteria opens. There is always people standing there waiting and my issue is this one man, who I do not know, who insists on hollering out a "GOOD MORNING" every time I see him. One day I crossed over to the other side of the hallway and I was even looking at stuff on the wall (looking totally in the other directions from where he was standing) and he still shouted out his greeting.
When I said something to one of my co workers about it they said "He is just being nice". Well, who asked for it. If I don't know you and I am not even looking at you, why on earth would you feel the need to greet me???
So now, I look ahead to see who is waiting for the cafeteria to open and, to avoid the annoying friendliness of this stranger, I will turn before I get to him and walk up the steps and down the hallway to my desk. The hallway is usually empty and that suites me just fine.
This morning when I saw he was in line at the cafeteria, I took the steps. Now upstairs I am walking along and thinking about what all I want to do this morning. I am not looking around, in fact I think at the time I think I was looking at my feet and then all of a sudden I hear "Good Morning" from out of nowhere. I look up to see a woman walking down the hallway on the other side, going the other direction and we are just passing.
I did not even know she was there and yet she felt the need to greet me. Why? She could have kept walking and I would have never known she was there. And yet she had to intrude into my private time, private space, my time with just me, like a little child who needs attention. Me, me, me . . . Look at me!!!
Am I in the wrong for feeling irritated because these strangers are pushing their way into my space? I don't think so. I guess what I am trying to say is, if I don't know you and we pass on the street, I am ignoring you for a reason. Please don't feel like my feelings will be hurt if you do the same.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
May 7, 2011
Tomorrow is Mothers Day. My friends on Face Book are all changing their profile picture to photos of their mothers. Everyone is sending messages saying "If you had a great mother . . . copy and repost". And I look at their messages and I feel so sad.
My mother and I are not close. We never have been. Even as a small child, we were not close. I love her, she's my mom. But if we were both in a room full of women, there is nothing in her that would draw me to her. Nothing that I would look at her and say "That woman is very interesting. I have to get to know her." And I think she feels the same way about me.
Several years ago I got so mad at her. Not really mad, hurt. I called her on Tuesday to see if she wanted to go to a craft shop on Friday and have lunch. She hemed and hawed around and I finally asked if she already had plans. She admitted that she didn't have set plans, but a friend had said something earlier in the week about something that "might" happen on Friday. So I just told her, hey, no big deal, it's just lunch and a little shopping. I made another call and found someone who wanted to commit to plans with me on Friday. Not somebody who wanted to wait and be sure that nothing better came along. Then Thursday my phone rings. It's mom. Now she is ready to make some plans. The plans with her friend fell through. I just said "Sorry, I made other plans. Maybe next time." That was when I basically cut her out of my life. For the most part stopped calling and trying to make plans for anything. And you know what? She never even noticed.
When you look at the way my mom was brought up, I am lucky she turned out as good as she did. My Grandmother was the original "Ice Queen". I never remember her saying anything nice to me. And several years before she passed away I went with my mom to visit her in the nursing home. As usual she picked a fight with me. I told mom on the way home, I love you, but I will never go and see her again.
Like I said earlier, I love her and I know she loves me, but that is about all there is.
I have tried to raise my daughter so she never has to guess at the way I feel about her. We are not only mother and daughter, we are friends. She is very important to me and I try to tell her that every time I talk to her.
Mothers Day? Different for me.
My mother and I are not close. We never have been. Even as a small child, we were not close. I love her, she's my mom. But if we were both in a room full of women, there is nothing in her that would draw me to her. Nothing that I would look at her and say "That woman is very interesting. I have to get to know her." And I think she feels the same way about me.
Several years ago I got so mad at her. Not really mad, hurt. I called her on Tuesday to see if she wanted to go to a craft shop on Friday and have lunch. She hemed and hawed around and I finally asked if she already had plans. She admitted that she didn't have set plans, but a friend had said something earlier in the week about something that "might" happen on Friday. So I just told her, hey, no big deal, it's just lunch and a little shopping. I made another call and found someone who wanted to commit to plans with me on Friday. Not somebody who wanted to wait and be sure that nothing better came along. Then Thursday my phone rings. It's mom. Now she is ready to make some plans. The plans with her friend fell through. I just said "Sorry, I made other plans. Maybe next time." That was when I basically cut her out of my life. For the most part stopped calling and trying to make plans for anything. And you know what? She never even noticed.
When you look at the way my mom was brought up, I am lucky she turned out as good as she did. My Grandmother was the original "Ice Queen". I never remember her saying anything nice to me. And several years before she passed away I went with my mom to visit her in the nursing home. As usual she picked a fight with me. I told mom on the way home, I love you, but I will never go and see her again.
Like I said earlier, I love her and I know she loves me, but that is about all there is.
I have tried to raise my daughter so she never has to guess at the way I feel about her. We are not only mother and daughter, we are friends. She is very important to me and I try to tell her that every time I talk to her.
Mothers Day? Different for me.
Friday, May 6, 2011
May 6, 2011
Today is my wedding anniversary. 22 Years with my special guy. We got together on March 4, were engaged on April 4 and married on May 6. I know it was fast, but so far it has lasted.
We went to Harrah's for lunch and then played slots for a while. Then we went to Walmart looking for a new table for the TV in the bedroom and new cushions for our backyard swing. The swing was also an anniversary gift several years ago. Then back home for a while. Later we went to Longhorn for dinner.
It was a great day. Will we make it 22 more? I think so. Sometimes he drives me crazy, but I do greatly love him.
We went to Harrah's for lunch and then played slots for a while. Then we went to Walmart looking for a new table for the TV in the bedroom and new cushions for our backyard swing. The swing was also an anniversary gift several years ago. Then back home for a while. Later we went to Longhorn for dinner.
It was a great day. Will we make it 22 more? I think so. Sometimes he drives me crazy, but I do greatly love him.
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