Get Off Me
As my students say: Quit ridin’ me.
--“You’ve been complaining about this area your entire life. Now all of a sudden, Tampa’s great. Now all of a sudden, you don't want to leave!”
Come on, now. I enjoy teasing Tampa with a wink and a poke. I tease because I love. What do I love about Tampa? I love that my children are thriving. I love that I’ve made a connection to my community. I love that my parents are minutes away for baseball games, school shows and free babysitting gigs. I love that my neighbors genuinely care about our well-being. I love my good friends and fellow teachers.
I think I’m entitled to some concern when considering a move so far away.
(Notice my list of loves does not include: heat, bugs, or co-workers who contact me late at night.)
--More headaches occur when trying to get people involved in politics. Why do they resist so? And why do they begrudge me my idealism?
I belong to a women's group and have sent out emails inviting them to events of interest. Some of the bitties respond as if I’m asking them to smoke weed at Livestock.
“Don’t use this list for such socializing!” or “Not all of us are liberal!” or “This is why women shouldn’t be allowed to vote!”
Okay, the last response was from my dad who got linked to that distibution-list accidentally. From now on, if anyone gets an email from me that offends, just hit delete and go back to really important sh*t like Martha’s gastric bypass surgery. Jeebus.
--My favorite response from people I solicit for possible involvement, “I’m not interested in politics.”
Really? You complain about traffic, overcrowded schools and have raised the art of b*tching to a new level when discussing property taxes. Yet you’d rather get lost in Lost than off your tuchis and involved? Explain again why you like me?
I must be a glutton for punishment because thinking, discussing and engaging will continue even with those who’d rather I not. Gotta be me and all.
And I will continue to handle the negative responses. Cause you’ve gotta be you, too.
posted by kate @ 6:03 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Moonbeam, You and I both know the REAL reason you will miss Tampa. That is because Mark knows there will never be anyone anywhere else who can put you in your place like I can. And if you move away, that would have to happen via phone, and we know that is just not affective. By the way, make sure you check Colorado's child safety laws before the kids skate for the Stanley Cup in your driveway.
Your buddy ALWAYS!!!
Sunshine!
P.S. Are you taking my lettermen jacket with you?
Hey - thanks for that amusing and entertaining post. If you do move, I hope that you'll still be posting on Out In Left Field. I've come to enjoy your musings.
Anyway, your comment :
"Really? You complain about traffic, overcrowded schools and have raised the art of b*tching to a new level when discussing property taxes. Yet you’d rather get lost in Lost than off your tuchis and involved? Explain again why you like me?"
I come accross this type of apathy all of the time. It drives me mad sometimes! I'm in the IT field (for you non geeks thats Information Technology) and my industry is feeling the gravity of the WTO and other trade agreements which facilitate offshoring and outsoucing.
But most people affected, as you mentioned, would rather become "lost in Lost". It will drive you crazy if you let it. So I don't and remember this:
"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little." -- Edmund Burke
keep doing what you do and the world will be a better place.
what the hell? it's wed. morning? no new post? what am i going to read?
"Really? You complain about traffic, overcrowded schools and have raised the art of b*tching to a new level when discussing property taxes. Yet you’d rather get lost in Lost than off your tuchis and involved?"
Amazing, huh?
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