Posted by Jason on March 27, 2001 at 12:51:31:
Howdy...
Thanks in advance for putting up with whatever this is...
I wonder if I am getting less tolerant as I grow older. I have begun to notice a trend that sometimes disturbs me, and it sometimes keeps me sane. There are two people in particular that have "helped" me become aware of this facet of myself: Lester and Wanda (names changed for reasons not publicly disclosed).
Lester is lonely. Now don't get me wrong -- I don't feel sorry for him, but I recognize that he is lonely, which is why I spend time with him (that and the fact that he is quite clever at finding out my plans and inviting himself to join me). I have decided, though, that I don't like spending time with him, and I'm not going to get roped in again. What's that? You want examples? Well, you'll have to head to the next paragraph...
One weekend, in the not-so-distant past, I decided that I was going to go out and scope some local clubs for potential work (I play in a band, and we are trying to play in more diverse locations). Lester asked if I had any plans for the evening and I told him about my plans. Yes, I was unenthusiastic, and perhaps a bit deadpan in my response, but this did not quell his excitement... "Why don't we hang out?!?" Ok, but I have certain places I need to go, etc., etc., etc. Not a problem...
I made it home a bit later than expected to prepare for the evening -- I needed to grab some food, shower, dress -- the whole nine. Guess who knocked on my door as I was preparing my dinner? Lester. I was not the most pleasant host as I opened the door, and my guest noticed. I apologized and made up an excuse (yes, I lied -- which is another fascinating story, sort of), and then I invited him in. I finished up making dinner as he helped himself to setting up my playstation with more than a little difficulty. Without a word spoken between us, I set everything up for him... funny how his frustration and impatience reminded me of my 4 year old son (Lester is 26 - college grad - executive - enrolled in a master's program - was an officer in the Navy). After I "spanked" him in playstation hockey (hey, I'm not saying I'm the most mature person either, but at least I beat him!), I took a quick shower, and off we went. I guess it was assumed that we would be riding together (much like it was assumed that he would show up at my house). I chose to drive - Lester did offer.
Ok, this is getting long.
Basically, to sum up the night (and this increasingly boring narrative from the annals of my increasingly boring life), we met several friends at the place I wanted to go (initially by myself), it sucked (we were unanimous in this assessment), and we went to another place. This was a non-unanimous, 30-minute decision --- Lester's was the dissenting voice. He wanted to go the beach, because it was spring break and all the "hot girls" would be there. Luckily, his wife was at home watching his toddler, giving him the freedom to sow his wild oats. Well, during the entire time spent at the second club, Lester was whining, literally, about going to the beach. I am now officially finished.
I'll have to address Wanda in installment two.
I basically do not like Lester. I do not agree with his view on morality and/or ethics. Yet, I feel somewhat obligated to spend time with him, perhaps because it is the "Christian" thing to do. When I do spend time with him, though, I am irritable and short. Not the pristine image of Christ that I want to be. So my response to the situation is to follow the flow. When I feel I am leading myself into a place that I am "wrong," then it is time to turn the other way. If this means I only spend time with the Lesters of the world in a sanitary setting, then so be it. Of course, there are times when sanitary is long forgotten, and my motive is just to keep my head above the muck. Perhaps my big issue here is that I do not find it appealing to spend time with someone who is better at muck-swimming than I was. Once I learned to look for the safety rope, I put my swimming abilities behind...
Either that or I should get a boat.
Thanks, kids!
Jason