There are certain things that I would rather not go to. They may be excellent events but I'm not interested in them and I don't need or want to attend the function.
One such incident happened yesterday. One of the local malls puts on a free senior's appreciation lunch . I didn't want to go to the free lunch!
Well, why wouldn't I like a free lunch and why did I go anyway?
My manager is big on free stuff. If poison was free she'd be the first in line. So yesterday she wanted to be at the mall to line up for the free lunch. Now here's the catch. My manager doesn't drive. The transit service isn't the best here. We have buses every twenty minutes but which twenty minutes? Since we don't use the bus how do you get across the city on a bus? It was really cold yesterday so old Red felt sorry and offered to take the manager to the mall. Since it's across town it didn't make much sense to drop her off and come back again.
I had told the manager that I would drop her off but I wouldn't stand in line or eat anything. Well, I know that one doesn't work because my manager will be a softy and pick up two plates of stuff. I will thank her and eat the stuff.
So what's the big deal? I happen to be somewhat wary of free stuff. It's usually junk! Now I know the people at the mall went to a great expense and effort. I appreciate that. I don't like triangly sandwiches that have mayonnaise and margarine on them. I don't like Styrofoam plates and plastic forks. I don't like crowds and in particular lineups. At 10:30 there were about 200 people lined up for the 11:30 start. There was entertainment and I wasn't too keen on the performances.This was definitely not my type of event.
Now seniors also get a free pictures with Santa. I'm a little past getting pictures with Santa...been there done that. But guess who had to get her picture taken with Santa?
Now I am a senior. Being with 400 other seniors should be a bonus. I didn't know anybody and it was not one of those functions were you had an opportunity to mix. Being alone in a crowd isn't my idea of fun.
Now I admit that there are times when I don't want to go somewhere that I can invent some pretty lame excuses. For this function I would rather have been any place else.
Now I know some people will say, "You're nuts. That sounds like a perfectly good event to go to." Other people may not be so kind as to just say , "You're nuts!" Other things could be said that are worse than nuts.
So there I am ...whining again! I feel better now.
i totally get it. i'd much rather just be at home. :)
ReplyDeleteAmazing that 400 people were there and most of them having a good time. I wish I had taken my camera and I could have shown you a picture of myself sitting in a corner with a long face.
DeleteSounds like you might need a stiff drink right about now, to wary away the stress of the whole ugly event! Good for you for being a trooper through it all. Next year, I'll bet your answer will be "no" again!
ReplyDeleteI think I need a stiffer back and then I could say no.
DeleteSorry....that last one was from me, your friendly neighbor down the street!
ReplyDeleteT
I had guessed that . Thanks.
DeleteA great rant. I can't think of anything worse. You should have taken a hip flask. Or two!
ReplyDeleteWell there are worse things but this one's gotta be pretty close to the bottom.
DeleteVery good, but I wonder does your good lady wife know that you refer to her as the "manager"?
ReplyDeleteOK where was the catch? Precious little is FREE these days and what was the "FREE" food like?
I like TexWisGirl would have given it a BIG miss also.
Colin (Brisbane. Australia)
PS: Still TRYING to rain here, hottish but bearable. Maybe the clouds above are FREE ones also??? - without entertainment or Santa Claus for photographs!
Well, believe it or not there was no catch. They were being good businesses.
DeleteWell, manager is a lot better than what she calls . At least manager is a compliment.
As the wise man once said "there is no such thing as a free lunch"
ReplyDeleteGreat quote!
DeleteI agree, I would not enjoy standing in a line of people to get a free lunch although I did stand in a lineup for a photo op when the "Stanley Cup" arrived in our small town last year....and there was NO FREE LUNCH! ha,ha
ReplyDeleteTo each his own. I wouldn't stand in line for he Stanley cup either.
DeleteI ride the bus all the time, but I remember when I was first learning how to do it and how nervous I got. I understand that, but you're right: why spend any of your time going to something you don't want to do? I had to laugh at your rant, though. It was worth it! :-)
ReplyDeleteMore of us should be like you and ride the bus.
DeleteI started a blog one time called "Red's Rants" I thought it was too negative so I dropped it.
At our ages...we can afford to NOT do those things we don't like. That's my take on things and it's working so far!
ReplyDeleteLinda
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I certainly agree with your take on things. there are too many things I would rather be doing.
DeleteWell Red, I wouldn't have enjoyed it either - not the standing in line and not the triangle sandwiches. Sitting on Santa's lap - maybe.
ReplyDeleteBut, I'm glad you kept your 'manager' happy. That will get you a present under the tree. :)
There are times when we really have to stand in line like for flu shots. But this was was away down in my priority list.
ReplyDeleteWell what does "the manager' call thee??
ReplyDeleteYou have left us with your reply in suspense!!!
Please do not reply if it upsets you - ha ha!
Or may be a danger to your well being.
Anyhow what was the FREE fare???
These questions are the result of it being so sauna like - the clouds remain - full of rain, but the bloody stuff won't drop!
I am sick and exhausted from my "banshee" like rain dancing and it is too dangerous to do under the shower.
Next blog PLEASE some of that Alberta "white stuff" - it refreshes me.
The manager calls me unprintable stuff!
ReplyDeleteAhh well, no.. you're not nuts. I wouldn't be the least bit interested in attending either. But you did a kind thing for your manager... though the grumbling about it kind of lessens that. ;)
ReplyDeleteAt least it was blog fodder for you!
"I don't like crowds and in particular lineups."
ReplyDeleteWe are on your side.
We hate them, too. There is not reason, at our stages in life, to put up with crap. Mind you, I love triangle sandwiches if I don't have to make them! I have fond memories of my late mother's open house parties at this time of year!
Still little snow here....
I would not have eaten there either..triangle sandwitches with mayo and mayonnaise sound terrible. Your manager needs to find some friends that go to all of those things...of course she probably misses you when you are not along:)
ReplyDelete