Here’s comes the dreaded loaded question again: “How’s it going?”
To answer honestly or not, that is the question. Most of us answer broadly and noncommittally, “Okay. Not bad. Pretty good, I can’t complain, but actually everything is just about the same.”
That response makes sense many days. Sometimes though things are way up or way down. It may be your health or someone in your immediate family that has you down. A great new job could be pumping you up. Most of the time, we avoid telling the bad news and don’t want to brag about the good, so we still answer the question in a non-descriptive, simple way.
I struggle with this. I do not want to burden others with some of the tough things going on in my life. I have to deal with them and resolve the issues. But, still, there is the human need to share, and we do crave sympathy at times.
We have bad days, weeks, even years. A good friend of mine lost both his brothers and his wife in an extremely short period of time (less than a year), and both his parents had to deal with life-constraining illnesses soon thereafter. I think of him often if I ever want to throw a pity party. Life can always be so much worse. We all have our pain and challenges.
Sometimes though, you just want to report the facts so people know what’s going on. Here you go. Two weeks ago, the following events occurred.
We have two dogs, Pepper and Thor, who love to chase every animal on the planet. Their favorite, as my wife describes it, is the “black and white kitty,” better known as the skunk.
They took a massive direct dose, the worst in our family history. A half gallon of vinegar didn’t clear them up. Washed and bathed and sprayed with stink-free cleaner, Febreze and baby shampoo, the house (and they) continue to reek. If there’s any consolation, we don’t have to listen for them to know they’re coming up the stairs because you sniff them first.
In another incident, while meeting with a friend and colleague to take some professional photos, we noticed someone walking furtively next to his house. Our antenna up, I watched out his front window and saw a teenager get in the car across the street, and quickly pull out, heading directly toward my car at a too-high-rate of speed. Whammo. Right in the rear bumper. He drives off. I run out the door and yell at him. He stops, comes back.
No biggie in terms of damage, but it means dealing with insurance, taking the car in, some anger at the circumstances and short-term inconvenience. Mostly a first world problem.
Then there is one of our cats who can no longer control herself, leaving us at least two presents a day as a gift. After a delay, we dealt with that issue.
Finally, there’s the big cost item – the washing machine going out. Of course, I caused it to finally cash in its chips, but the way it broke was too much. The button to start the washer depressed, then wouldn’t retract. The repair guy couldn’t do anything. The part was not available. Replace the washer was the option, and always best to do the dryer at the same time, so we bit the bullet on that.
Otherwise, things are fine. The sun rises. The weather is quite nice, in the mid-70s during the day and high 40’s or low 50’s at night. Good sleeping weather if I can quit obsessing about all this stuff and get rid of that lingering skunk stench.
To answer honestly or not, that is the question. Most of us answer broadly and noncommittally, “Okay. Not bad. Pretty good, I can’t complain, but actually everything is just about the same.”
That response makes sense many days. Sometimes though things are way up or way down. It may be your health or someone in your immediate family that has you down. A great new job could be pumping you up. Most of the time, we avoid telling the bad news and don’t want to brag about the good, so we still answer the question in a non-descriptive, simple way.
I struggle with this. I do not want to burden others with some of the tough things going on in my life. I have to deal with them and resolve the issues. But, still, there is the human need to share, and we do crave sympathy at times.
We have bad days, weeks, even years. A good friend of mine lost both his brothers and his wife in an extremely short period of time (less than a year), and both his parents had to deal with life-constraining illnesses soon thereafter. I think of him often if I ever want to throw a pity party. Life can always be so much worse. We all have our pain and challenges.
Sometimes though, you just want to report the facts so people know what’s going on. Here you go. Two weeks ago, the following events occurred.
We have two dogs, Pepper and Thor, who love to chase every animal on the planet. Their favorite, as my wife describes it, is the “black and white kitty,” better known as the skunk.
They took a massive direct dose, the worst in our family history. A half gallon of vinegar didn’t clear them up. Washed and bathed and sprayed with stink-free cleaner, Febreze and baby shampoo, the house (and they) continue to reek. If there’s any consolation, we don’t have to listen for them to know they’re coming up the stairs because you sniff them first.
In another incident, while meeting with a friend and colleague to take some professional photos, we noticed someone walking furtively next to his house. Our antenna up, I watched out his front window and saw a teenager get in the car across the street, and quickly pull out, heading directly toward my car at a too-high-rate of speed. Whammo. Right in the rear bumper. He drives off. I run out the door and yell at him. He stops, comes back.
No biggie in terms of damage, but it means dealing with insurance, taking the car in, some anger at the circumstances and short-term inconvenience. Mostly a first world problem.
Then there is one of our cats who can no longer control herself, leaving us at least two presents a day as a gift. After a delay, we dealt with that issue.
Finally, there’s the big cost item – the washing machine going out. Of course, I caused it to finally cash in its chips, but the way it broke was too much. The button to start the washer depressed, then wouldn’t retract. The repair guy couldn’t do anything. The part was not available. Replace the washer was the option, and always best to do the dryer at the same time, so we bit the bullet on that.
Otherwise, things are fine. The sun rises. The weather is quite nice, in the mid-70s during the day and high 40’s or low 50’s at night. Good sleeping weather if I can quit obsessing about all this stuff and get rid of that lingering skunk stench.