I try to be a friendly person. I try to be nice. I certainly can’t claim to be the nicest person on the planet and I can’t claim that I like everyone I meet, but I do try to be at least nice.
Even when it’s downright painful.
I’m not always tactful, and sometimes the filter between my brain and my mouth malfunctions, but I’m rarely rude on purpose.
Even when I really, really, want to say something ugly.
I’ve bitten my tongue until it bleeds sometimes, but I’ll keep snark and insults behind my teeth where they belong.
Most of the time. Some still slips, through. I usually feel very bad about it when it does.
My point is… I try. I try very hard.
Now, you all know that poem about “when I’m an old lady, I’m going to wear purple.” Since I fully intend to remain fashionable when I’m an old lady, I’m going to adopt something else. When I’m an old lady, I’m going to say whatever the hell I want to, whenever the hell I want to, to whomever I want to. Filters be damned. If your panties are in a wad, I’m going to call you on it. If you’re evil and bitchy, I’m going to tell you to your face that you’re an evil bitch. If I don’t like you, I’m not going to waste time talking to you. I’m not going to listen to whining, or BSing, or excuses or anything else.
I’m just not. Not. Not. Not. I’ll happily wear my label as a curmudgeonly, mean old bat.
It will be good for my blood pressure.
Once upon a time, I decided that 40 would be the cut-off date for this. My 40th birthday present to me would be freedom: freedom from other people’s crap and attitude problems.
Unfortunately, the Geek has evilly reminded me that I’m closer to 40 than 30 these days, and did I really want to declare myself an old lady at 40?
Darn him and his rational, reasonable approach to things.
It looks like I can’t be a curmudgeonly old bat just yet. I guess I’ll keep being nice, watching my mouth, biting my tongue and working on that tactful thing.
But it gives me something to look forward to, right?
~grumble, grumble~
PC
10 comments:
I have always declared that I was not going to get old-- just eccentric!
Being an, ahem, "older woman" does have its benefits but telling people off doesn't seem to be one of them. I have found that even when you do say your peace the recipient usually gives you a blank look and continues with whatever he/she is doing that ticked you off. Inversely causing your blood pressure to sky-rocket - you just can't fix stupid. And there are a LOT of stupid people out there.
Way back when, I decided that when I reached a certain age -- which shall go unspecified -- I would stop worrying about what I weighed and how I looked, eat whatever I wanted, say what I wanted to say, and in general cast off all fetters.
Having long since reached and passed that unspecified age, I can tell you that fetters remain, and I've come to the conclusion they're what's best for society in general. Just think what life would be like if EVERYONE cast off their fetters. So I remain fetters, and probably shall until the end of my days.
Damn it.
Make that "fettered," not "fetters." Grrr.
Verification word is "elerts." Is that an e-mail telling you an unwelcome e-mail is coming?
I'm one of those older women who wear purple and red hats. But only when with a group of others doing the same. We laugh, we play "Happy Birthday" on the kazoo to a fellow Red Hatter (and usually get an ovation for doing so) and we just have fun and embrace having become one of those older women. And I've let some of the fetters, as Maven Linda called them, go. Sadly, though, the people who really need the dressing down rarely get what you're saying (it's that stupid factor Cheryl mentioned) but it still makes me feel good to say it.
I belong to the "Occasional Unfettering Club."
The age at which I plan to consider myself an unfettered old lady keeps moving higher and higher, as I get closer and closer. :-) -- LJ
Yeah, it's amazing how the definition of "old" changes at each birthday...
I have decided though, that I'm not dealing with rudeness anymore. *That* I'm completely over.
Well, I am looking forward to getting older (say 60 - 65?) so that I can be of of those people known as "she is set in her ways" person. I want to run people off the road, jam on the breaks, go 25 in a 45 zone, pull out in front of people just because and just be cranky. I am so looking forward to is as I don't think at 50 I can get away with it.....lol
At age 85 I'm not getting older-- I'm just eccentric!
It isn't being mean...it's being honest. And I personally prize honesty. :-)
Insti
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