To let go, or not to let go...

Psst, come on in, jump into my little world... You have to go through the secret passage way in the library and then let yourself tumble down, as the floor opens up and your feet giveway...

        

Oh thank goodness!  You made it.  I was getting worried there for a minute... We have been waiting for you.  Eager for our little intimate chats about little life things...

      

Here, put on your head dress.  And take some pearls... Oh, you say you want a spot of tea as well?? and some treats??? Okay, you sit here... While I get tea ready.... How about some espresso??

      

You know, I was wondering?  When did people make that sad decision to let go? To let go of their youthfulness?  Of their silliness. To become grouchy and mean and rotten little people?  I am constantly floored at the growing rudeness I face in shops, in restaurants, in the real world.  It really scares me and sends me home in shock.  My mom and I talk about this and remind ourselves not to stop being silly. Not to care what people think. Not to let people's unhappiness seep in...  But sometimes, it strikes when you least expect. 

Oh sorry, I got so carried away,  I almost forgot about your tea... Here you go, take a cup of your choice...

        

The story that prompted all of this goes like this...  I normally ship things from the regular US post office, where people are nice and wonderful.  However, one day recently, I found myself at the privately owned local shipping place.  I was being treated so poorly.  I was prepared to pay their $96.00 to send a personal package.  I was prepared to deal with a bit of rudeness.  But, there was a limit.  I was being yelled at and barked at.  So, I walked over to my package, took it off the scale and then...  I stood up straight and said "I am sick of being treated poorly every time I come here, I do not deserve this, and I refuse to ship anything from here."  The woman started yelling mean things to me as I walked out. 

I thought?? What have I done to deserve this?  Even if she is having a bad day, I still do not deserve this.  Not to this extent.  It took everything in me to be strong... To not let her bad attitude seep into me, tainting a bit of me...  Bawling out of anger and disgust with the whole thing, I promptly drove down the road to a UPS store I had never been to.  I walked in, tears streaking my face and the people were wonderful to me.  They said they had heard about that shipping place in Catalina.  They weighed my package. I expected it to cost the $96.  I take out my debit card and the woman says, "That will be $23.00"  I was floored!! I thought, not only was I treated poorly at the last place, but they were blatantly overcharging.   

You know, I refuse to lose my happy streak.  To become so scorned and tainted by other people's bad attitudes that it affects my well being.  I am not unrealistic though... I know how life works...  We can't always be over the top bubbly and happy... But, why not a little?  Why not share a little bit of light and love wherever we go?  I am not trying to be corny, I am dead serious.  How ever will anything change if we don't make little changes internally? 

I refuse to let my silly youthfulness go.  Not today.  Not tomorrow.  I will find myself, like I did at 6a.m. today, on a walk, repairing little pieces in me. Talking to myself, reflecting... For now, I will cross my arms, and refuse to let go. 

      

And, I will continue to do an Irish jig in the street, everytime this comes in the mail...

      

Especially when the topic is about Halloween and the inside looks like this... Yippeeeee!!!

      

How do you feel about all of this nuttiness?

(photo of child taken from my copy of Amercian Junk, older hard cover)

Comments

[cruststation]

Thank you for your wisdom today, I really needed to read this. The youthful happiness is such an important thing to keep hold of...I visited Ulla's blog this morning and read of her party with Corey, how wonderful to be a little girl again -dress up and live the fairytale...why not? I am also impressed by your strength to speak out at the shipping place. Well done!

[Wende]

That's outrageous. I don't get poor customer service... makes no sense to me, and frankly, I won't tolerate it! Good for you!! :D

(and, for some reason your sweet sis's blog has gone missing???)

[Felicia]

I'm so glad you were able to put a stop to the unfair treatment you were receiving. Mean people suck!

[Britt-Arnhild]

How incredible rude. I am glad you met some nice people at the other place.

yes, you are right, we will keep on being silly, funny and ccreative till our last day.

[Jill]

You go girlfriend! If enough people did that the bad ones would be out of business! My theory is whenever you see a mechanical horse - put your quarter in and ride! Even if your husband is quite embarrassed. LOL

[Stacie]

You are wonderful and it is great that you stood up for yourself...this is just one of the aspects of getting older that I love..taking care of yourself and not allowing anyone to take advantage of you...
:)

[Conni]

Oh my gosh! I feel so out of the loop being gone for the past week...it looks like you really struck a cord with this one! So many posts!!!...and it did with my too. I am constantly amazed when I go into stores and am not greeted at all! Lately I can't tell you how many times I've walked up to a check out counter in a variety of different types of stores, and the person doesn't even look up or say hello...this drives me batty! I always say Hello very loudly and make them look up at me....then I've also noticed that at lots of clothing stores these days, the cashier doesn't even bother folding your treasures before puttint them in the bag, they just wad them up and stuff them in like a bunch of rubbish!....ohh it makes me very frustrated! Yes, I believe we can't let go of our happiness and silliness, and we have to try not to let this get to us, but it does make me sad...I feel old fashioned saying this, but what's the world coming to?

[Tricia]

Oh Vanessa, i know how rude and horrible people can be....it was a blessing in disguise because you ended up saving a load of money and finding a post office with nice people who made you feel good. That person is not worth your tears...but i know being a sensitvie person myself that it is so easy to cry over these things!!
Dahling, what lovely tea things you own!!

[Mary Ann]

My philosophy of life sounds a bit like yours. Here let me sum it up in a quote I stumbled upon recently: Humanity is a parade of fools and I am at the front of it twirling a baton.
Oh, and I'll take the cup at the bottom that looks like a custard dish - that big one on the right.

[Betty @ She's Sew Pretty]

I was feeling so mean and cranky and down right bitchy this morning and I sat down to read blogs and read this. Thank you Vanessa...I think I will be silly and un-grown-up today! Hugs!