...and it’s your attitude lady!
I got to pick Ben up a little early from preschool today so I decided it was FINALLY time to visit the Bryanston Organic Market that is right down the road from my house.
Why haven't I been there yet? Probably because it’s so obvious. It’s right there. It’s too easy. Anyway, Quinn, Ben, and I made our way through the booths which were filled with lots of little treasures...very cool. After a nutritious lunch of organic chocolate chip cookies and organic gelato (I think we really tapped into the whole organic thing...eat well, live well, blah blah blah), the boys found a sandbox to play in. I reminded Ben not to eat or throw the sand and my accent caught the attention of a lady sitting on the edge of the sand with her granddaughter and Bad Attitude (sorry...didn't catch her name). Lady says, "Where are YOU from?" I say, "north of Chicago," which I have found to be much much easier than saying Wisconsin. No one outside of the US knows where Wisconsin is and it’s just easier. Bad Attitude tells me she's from Colorado and asks what I'm doing there. Husband's job, Kimberly-Clark, 2-3 years, etc. etc. She then, with a fiercely evil look in her eye says, "So, how do you like it here?" She was digging for something. I respond with, "The sun shines every day...what is there to complain about?" And then her negative everything poured onto me like Nickelodeon green slime and I couldn't get away. I couldn't even raise my arm to slap the crap out of her (which is what I really wanted to do, but you know, the kids were right there and all). Through my shock, this is what I remember...
Bad Attitude: "Well, I'm from Colorado and my husband is working a high-powered job with Deloitte. Have you heard of Deloitte?"
Jessie (in my head): "No, I actually just moved here from a nice place under a rock." And as soon as she said "high powered" the image of Willy Wonka popped into my head saying, "Ooooohhhh, high powered. Your husband must be VERY important."
BA: "In Colorado there are no walls. I can't stand the walls around everything. I'm used to traveling to Europe with my husband where you can just leave your hotel and walk for hours to the Louvre or Big Ben or the little pastry shop around the corner."
J (in my head, of course): "In case no one told you, this is not Colorado and this is not Europe. And wow, travel to Europe. You are the only person ever to have traveled to Europe. What is it like there? Tell me more of your high-powered travel." Barf.
J (out of my mouth): We just live down the road and I walk all over. Have you been to the butcher shop? There is a nice park down the road too. Lots of runners and walkers around here in the morning.
Bad Attitude: "Well, this is all a real test. I have been here for a week and I told my husband I want an earlier flight. I am supposed to be here for a month and I can't stand it. I mean, how am I supposed to learn how to drive?"
J (in my head): Get me the hell out of here.
J (out of my mouth): "I just put my kids in the car one day and went for it. No choice really. It’s not hard once you just do it. Have you been to X, Y, and Z (random cool things we have done...trying to change the subject)?"
BA: "No, I don't do anything because it’s impossible to meet people. I'm not going places by myself...it’s not safe."
J (in my head): This is why people think Americans are ignorant. Thank you BA for perpetuating the stereotype.
J (out of mouth): "Well, it would be a shame to be living somewhere most people only dream of and not experience what is here. Good luck!"
I mean, for real???? How many of you would give a limb to be in this lady's shoes? She gets to live here for a month! This is one of the most incredible, unique, beautiful places on Earth. How sad for her. On a side note, her poor husband...no wonder he works so many hours.
Yes, I feel homesick and times. Yes, I miss "home." But there is no question in my mind, if someone offered me the chance to move home right now, I would have to say no. I'm not ready to be done here. I haven't done enough here yet. I haven't finished the chapter in my life book.
I am happy to report that I did not join in her rotten, green slime, pity party. Pity party...how ridiculous. What did I get out of this weirdo conversation with Bad Attitude? A) Some people are never happy. B) I took a minute to send thoughts of gratefulness out into the universe. C) She sucked.
I got to pick Ben up a little early from preschool today so I decided it was FINALLY time to visit the Bryanston Organic Market that is right down the road from my house.
Why haven't I been there yet? Probably because it’s so obvious. It’s right there. It’s too easy. Anyway, Quinn, Ben, and I made our way through the booths which were filled with lots of little treasures...very cool. After a nutritious lunch of organic chocolate chip cookies and organic gelato (I think we really tapped into the whole organic thing...eat well, live well, blah blah blah), the boys found a sandbox to play in. I reminded Ben not to eat or throw the sand and my accent caught the attention of a lady sitting on the edge of the sand with her granddaughter and Bad Attitude (sorry...didn't catch her name). Lady says, "Where are YOU from?" I say, "north of Chicago," which I have found to be much much easier than saying Wisconsin. No one outside of the US knows where Wisconsin is and it’s just easier. Bad Attitude tells me she's from Colorado and asks what I'm doing there. Husband's job, Kimberly-Clark, 2-3 years, etc. etc. She then, with a fiercely evil look in her eye says, "So, how do you like it here?" She was digging for something. I respond with, "The sun shines every day...what is there to complain about?" And then her negative everything poured onto me like Nickelodeon green slime and I couldn't get away. I couldn't even raise my arm to slap the crap out of her (which is what I really wanted to do, but you know, the kids were right there and all). Through my shock, this is what I remember...
Bad Attitude: "Well, I'm from Colorado and my husband is working a high-powered job with Deloitte. Have you heard of Deloitte?"
Jessie (in my head): "No, I actually just moved here from a nice place under a rock." And as soon as she said "high powered" the image of Willy Wonka popped into my head saying, "Ooooohhhh, high powered. Your husband must be VERY important."
BA: "In Colorado there are no walls. I can't stand the walls around everything. I'm used to traveling to Europe with my husband where you can just leave your hotel and walk for hours to the Louvre or Big Ben or the little pastry shop around the corner."
J (in my head, of course): "In case no one told you, this is not Colorado and this is not Europe. And wow, travel to Europe. You are the only person ever to have traveled to Europe. What is it like there? Tell me more of your high-powered travel." Barf.
J (out of my mouth): We just live down the road and I walk all over. Have you been to the butcher shop? There is a nice park down the road too. Lots of runners and walkers around here in the morning.
Bad Attitude: "Well, this is all a real test. I have been here for a week and I told my husband I want an earlier flight. I am supposed to be here for a month and I can't stand it. I mean, how am I supposed to learn how to drive?"
J (in my head): Get me the hell out of here.
J (out of my mouth): "I just put my kids in the car one day and went for it. No choice really. It’s not hard once you just do it. Have you been to X, Y, and Z (random cool things we have done...trying to change the subject)?"
BA: "No, I don't do anything because it’s impossible to meet people. I'm not going places by myself...it’s not safe."
J (in my head): This is why people think Americans are ignorant. Thank you BA for perpetuating the stereotype.
J (out of mouth): "Well, it would be a shame to be living somewhere most people only dream of and not experience what is here. Good luck!"
I mean, for real???? How many of you would give a limb to be in this lady's shoes? She gets to live here for a month! This is one of the most incredible, unique, beautiful places on Earth. How sad for her. On a side note, her poor husband...no wonder he works so many hours.
Yes, I feel homesick and times. Yes, I miss "home." But there is no question in my mind, if someone offered me the chance to move home right now, I would have to say no. I'm not ready to be done here. I haven't done enough here yet. I haven't finished the chapter in my life book.
I am happy to report that I did not join in her rotten, green slime, pity party. Pity party...how ridiculous. What did I get out of this weirdo conversation with Bad Attitude? A) Some people are never happy. B) I took a minute to send thoughts of gratefulness out into the universe. C) She sucked.
Proud of you DIL. Don't think she will be your next BFF!!!
ReplyDeleteI know where Wisconsin is!
ReplyDeleteAnd good on your for dodging her slime.
She obviously hates her life, wherever she is.