When my husband was growing up, he had a couple of longtime neighbors that always planned a huge 4th of July extravaganza in their backyard. Think grilling, horse shoes, all the American family pastimes.
Along with all the food and fun, this family—we'll call them the Flops--fought. A little too much beer, a little too much sun, and the afternoons always entailed a boxing match. It was a joke around my husband's house: "The Flops are at it again."
Every year, the Flops set out with the expectation of a fun-filled family event. And every year it ended with a rumble through the azaleas.
Our own holidays tend to be a little, ahem ... quieter. But I do wonder if the hot temperatures can have an inflaming effect on tempers that are naturally inclined to run a little hot.
As I enjoy a cool drink on the patio this weekend, I'll think of the Flops ... and hope they're celebrating this hot weather with cooler tempers.
Happy 4th!
Showing posts with label temper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label temper. Show all posts
Friday, July 3, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Dear angry movie theater lady ...
This weekend my husband and I went to the movies. As we were buying tickets, we watched a woman storm up to the ticket window and berate the young woman working at the counter because the youth had forgotten to give the angry woman her ticket stubs.
"Can't you get anything right? It's not that hard," she screamed in front of an audience of waiting patrons.
My first thought was, "Wow, what a mean person." But I know that's not right. The woman—we'll call her Short Stack—behaved badly. And yes, she acted mean. But there's no way she was that mad because the youth working the counter forgot to hand her the ticket stubs.
So what was bothering her? I don't know. But I've heard similar stories before. A co-worker who is always short tempered later reveals she's suffering through marital problems or experiencing a difficult pregnancy. A boss who's so distracted he can't seem to remember his own name confesses he's trying to plan hospice care for a dying parent.
Perhaps Short Stack was going to the movies to forget something painful she's dealing with in her own life. Does that make her behavior acceptable? Absolutely not. But in the midst of doing something for herself—taking a time out to go to the movies—she forgot why she was there. To take care of herself. And that's all good, just as long as you don't trod on others in the process.
To quote Short Stack, "It's not that hard." So what gifts are you going to give yourself today? Here are mine:
1. Girl talk with a girlfriend
2. A special dinner with my spouse
3. Time to write
"Can't you get anything right? It's not that hard," she screamed in front of an audience of waiting patrons.
My first thought was, "Wow, what a mean person." But I know that's not right. The woman—we'll call her Short Stack—behaved badly. And yes, she acted mean. But there's no way she was that mad because the youth working the counter forgot to hand her the ticket stubs.
So what was bothering her? I don't know. But I've heard similar stories before. A co-worker who is always short tempered later reveals she's suffering through marital problems or experiencing a difficult pregnancy. A boss who's so distracted he can't seem to remember his own name confesses he's trying to plan hospice care for a dying parent.
Perhaps Short Stack was going to the movies to forget something painful she's dealing with in her own life. Does that make her behavior acceptable? Absolutely not. But in the midst of doing something for herself—taking a time out to go to the movies—she forgot why she was there. To take care of herself. And that's all good, just as long as you don't trod on others in the process.
To quote Short Stack, "It's not that hard." So what gifts are you going to give yourself today? Here are mine:
1. Girl talk with a girlfriend
2. A special dinner with my spouse
3. Time to write
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