Saturday, November 6, 2010

Why Friends are Good - make that Awesome

Because I'm mostly an idiot, I suggested to a local organization, of which I am a board member, that we put on a 5k as a fundraiser. While the idea isn't one of an idiot, I'm an idiot because I know better than to suggest something I'm not willing to plan myself. And that's how I suddenly had the title of "Race Director," much to my dismay and even denial.

Overall, the planning was a bit harried, but going along well. Two women were doing a lot of the work and I fully appreciated it. Three days ago, when it was time for us to stuff goody bags for the runners, I realized I was the only one who thought we were gathering as three people working together toward a common goal. Instead, I encountered coldness, lack of eye contact, and whispered phone calls.

As if I wouldn't notice. Seriously, I'm not THAT big of an idiot.

That's when I, again, realized the value of good friends. First of, most all of the close friends I have in this area I wrangled into volunteering (getting up and leaving your warm bed in the dark of a cold November Saturday....these are special people). Four people in particular took a major chunk of responsibility. When I realized these two "Mean Girls" were creating drama where none need be, I fell back on said friends for sounding and soothing. Of course, they came through for me.

I had two more days to endure with the Mean Girls and their attacks. By this morning, the day of the event, I was somewhat worn, but ready. When my friends came in force to volunteer today, the Mean Girls were impotent.

The face of true friendship and sincerity scared them off like water on the Bad Witch. The event was a success! If the Mean Girls wanted to sniggle and snipe any more at my expense, it was even more obvious they had no grounds for it.

What a comfort to me, to have such wonderful people in my life.

While the Mean Girls merit a scrap of respect for their bitterness, that scrap kills any respect because of their adverse meanness. It's like they even made bitterness bad.

And we won't tolerate that kind of attitude around here...

3 comments:

  1. True Bitterness requires a certain amount of finesse. Being mean is just classless. I think "I'm taking my crepe paper and leaving" may become the new "don't be jealousy"...though that's a tough one since "don't be jealousy is a timeless classic."

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  2. ....noooooo, did they actually say i'm taking my crepe paper and leaving or did you say it when it happened? . . . and who made that awesome kindergarten pic of dogs above.

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  3. Well, when the crepe paper disappears, it can be assumed that the unsaid statement was "I'm taking my crepe paper and leaving." Can you believe it? Talk about your kindergarten stuff...and I love the pic of the dogs. Whoever made that is very creative!

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