Oy!
Adulting is hard.
Dealing with people is even
harder ☹
Today was Fellowship
Potluck. I have been avoiding potluck Sundays because there is a couple, I really
do not like being around – they are controlling. They are gossips. They are
cruel.
Every time they come to mind
… this song pops into my head:
The Undisputed
Truth – ‘Smiling Faces’ song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oLl8NLtels)
This couple is old enough to
understand “No.” They are old enough to understand that {no} is a
complete sentence – it does not need to be expanded on. I have, more
than once, asked her not to speak about my family as though she is a blood relative (she is not, praise the Lord), and I have asked her not to suddenly grab me and hug me against my will. I have told him
to leave me alone (he’s pushy in his opinions concerning me, and he’s too touchy-feeling for my comfort).
I have made it clear to those speaking to me on their behalf, that I do not
want either of them touching me or forcing their opinions on me. Having
gray hair and wrinkles on the face does not give anyone carte blanche to overstep
boundaries: any boundary; no matter how “insignificant it seems to
them”.
Both give off disingenuous
vibes … and have on several occasions proven to be a two-faced lynching duo
when faced with opposition to their pet agendas.
I really do not
like them. And seriously go out of my way to avoid interaction with them.
But
there are other people I really enjoy spending time with: the event was a dicey
crapshoot.
So, I decided to put a smile
in place, and ride the storm out; dealing with issues as they arose, in the
moment. I mean … I’m teaching a class where the discussions are similar
to this very topic, every Monday and Tuesday, for Pete’s sake! I guess
it’s time (once more; God help me) to test where the rubber meets
the road, on a personal level 😉
I pulled jeggings, and a lacy
top out of the closet that looked to fit the holiday mood of today’s potluck (a
precursor to Thanksgiving) 😊
I like the color of the top.
I like the lacey material. I got a lot of compliments on it … but,
it will not be a repeat.
Looking at these pics of that
pretty top, it looks like I am wearing a cutdown tablecloth! I’ve worn it – and
now, someone else can wear it next year.
On my way to the front door,
I took one look out the front window at the frost-iced car across the street,
and grabbed my heavy coat.
My
stomach was pitching a fit thinking about the tiger couple – so, I stopped at
Baker’s Corner and grabbed a quick bite to calm it down some 😉
Fellowship went well; the
message was good, and the atmosphere was warm.
I met some more new people …
not new to the area, just {new} to me.
And of course, they showed up, and started
right in with the overstepping high-stepping ☹
So, I spoke my mind:
clearly. Distinctly. And firmly. In front of witnesses (they are the ones
that staged it that way, to put me on the spot – I just cashed in on the
listening ears surrounding us).
They acted
surprised, offended, and miffed
at my {candor}: but I remained unmovable in tone or meaning; repeating
twice: “I meant what I said. Stop crowding me. I don’t like it; and
I’ve asked you politely for months to “please stop.” And if you think I am
{offensive} now, keep pushing on me and you will find out how “offensive” I can
really be. Back off.”
I don’t like being a bitch …
but if people continually push that Bitch Button, I have no qualms at all about
leveling both barrels, and letting the scatter shot fly.
They
eventually moved on to pester some other poor soul, and I moved on to enjoy the
company of those I truly do enjoy. The rest of the day went smoothly, thank
God.
I was invited to three Thanksgiving Suppers on Thursday, but I politely declined each one, stating, "Holidays are for Families; thank you, but I'll just stay home and watch 'Alice's Restaraunt' on YouTube if it's available - if it isn't, I'll finish my latest Cluve Cussler read." Every one of them assured me, "You are Family, Val", and I know they mean it; but I still declined. I really do appreciate those who love me enough to ask me to thier home (they are good friends) ... but every one of them are also football fans: and I am not. Thanksgiving & Christmas are football-madness-holidays. The Seattle Seahawks do not "thrill" me.
Later on, at home, I engaged
in some more future thankfulness activity:
