Something happened this past Tuesday that really got on my nerves. For most of you that know me well, it takes quite a bit to get me worked up about what I consider the “small stuff.”

I was just coming down the stairs of the store, after working my shift, when I see a woman walking towards me calling my name. “Nancy! Nancy!  Is that you?”  I realized it was an old customer from the store and a friend of a friend, but not my friend.

She is a real talker. And anyone that knows me, that is something I excel at better than most. My Dad once said that when I went to work for the Forest Service the poor squirrels and chipmunks wouldn’t be able to get a word in edgewise.

But this woman has me beat.  She does not listen. Not At All!

I call her a drama dumper!  I have heard the term trauma share, but with this woman share does not enter into the equation.  She dumps!  This is the jist of the conversation. (Names have been changed because…well you know why.)

“Hi Mary.  How have you been?

“Have you seen Bill.  He owes me money.  I didn’t know the store was still here.  I didn’t expect it to be.”

“I haven’t seen bill since I saw you…”

“Well he owes me a lot  of money.  I’ve lost weight. Don’t I look good? ( I try to answer, but she keeps going.) “I haven’t been this weight since I was 16, but now I’m great.  I look good and I’m doing great.”

I manage to slip in “Great.”  You think I might get mad at that, but I’m fat and I know it.  The catty look up and down she has given me doesn’t even give me pause.  But she is like a bulldozer.  Next comes the…”My cars not working, the dog has to be groomed, my shoes hurt but most of all you need to give me Bill’s Number so I can track him down and get my money.” I finally interrupt her because I’m tired and I want to go home.

“Yea, well it’s been over 10 years since I’ve seen you and I have lost track of Bill, so I have no number to give you.”

After all of that she finally manages to get on my nerves when she says, “Well!  I always pay back everyone I owe and Bill should pay me back.”

I look her in the eyes and say, “Well that’s not true Mary.  You still owe me money.  Remember when Bill said you were in need and you were good for the money so I gave you a loan, not a gift, a loan.  You even signed an I.O.U. which I still have.”

Now she looks down, around, and anywhere, but at me.  She can’t get away from me fast enough.

“Mary do you know why I keep that I.O.U. from you? ”

“What? Well. No , but…” (Now I interrupt her.)

“You taught me a valuable lesson. I keep it to remind me that when we give money to people, most likely we will never get it back.  If we do…it is like a precious gift that someone keeps their word.  You didn’t keep your word with me.  Why do you expect Bill to keep it with you.  Get over your anger and let it go.  You owe me more than Bill owes you so consider it a blessing and get over your upset and let it go.”

“O.K.” Mary says.”I will stop by and see you sometime.”

“Enjoy your life Mary, ” I say as she quickly walks away.

 

 

 

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