Company

Have you ever noticed how you look forward to some company and you dread other company showing up?

There is the company that you look forward to. You rush to the window to see if their car is in the driveway every time the dog passes gas. You watch the clock. You deliberately don't go even to the mail box in case you miss something. You prepare for dinner and make fresh coffee and prance around like a little one learning to control their bladder.

Then there is the the other end of the spectrum. There is the company that you dread. You creep to the window and fear what you will see there. You leave home as many time as you can just so you might not be there when they get there and you can avoid having to deal with them for a little while longer.

I'm "looking forward" the the latter kind right now. This company makes a point of proving that he is better than we are as providers. We provide heat, light, food, medical, clothes and many of the extras that they want. Our company comes bringing high end gaming computers and showering money on everyone. It doesn't help that this person has a house that was paid off by parents years ago... a car paid off... a good job... oh, and no spouse or kids. Even the things that we buy the kids, they take credit for. "You remember when I bought you your Ipod"... You remember when I took you to the wonderful festival"... "These kids wouldn't go anywhere or do anything if it weren't for me".

This time we get a call (oh yeah, after the arrival time was supposed to be passed). "Hello can you tell the kids that I didn't leave on time. There was a horrible horrible ice storm and all of the interstates were closed and they are only just now getting cleared and I am leaving in a little bit and won't be there till tomorrow night?

Funny... people seem to forget that internet connections and family in the area can prove differently. It was forty degrees and the roads were clear and dry. GRRRR

Why just not tell them you didn't want to come
why not just tell them that you had to work
why not just tell them that something came up

Not that even they are disappointed

AND we get to go see the christmas lights that we wouldn't have gotten to see otherwise (since we never take the kids ANYWHERE and you can't stand to walk through the park or sit in our car for the 30 min to get there).

Ah the holidays, company and stress

ajw