Gloom and Doom
I have a friend who I call, Miss Gloom and Doom. I call her that because I hear from her about once a year and always around Halloween time and when she calls she always talks about how bad her life is. Never the good just the bad. So, I know in the month of October I will hear from her at least once. Today was the day. I looked at the caller ID and prepared myself for the conversation that will make be grateful for what I have. She told me all about who was doing what in her family and it was all bad. Apparently, three people aren't talking to each other, One person is in jail, Another one isn't talking to anyone and mad at the world and the last one is mad at someone who did something to someone back last year. I barely remember the whole conversation. When I start to tell her the good stuff that is happening in my life. I tell her I always try to find the good in almost any situation she quickly turns the conversation to the gloom and doom.
I used to listen to her for hours. I would say to myself maybe she doesn't have anyone else to talk to so I will be the friend who listens. Sometimes all someone needs is an ear to listen to you vent. Well, after many years of doing this I have come to the decision today that I can't do it anymore. She is too draining for me and too not positive. The older she gets the more she has to complain about. Yes, she even complained about getting older. She even complained about a guy whistling at her the other day at the gas station. I was like well, you are one lucky lady nobody has whistled at me in years. I was hoping that I was bringing some humor in the conversation but she didn't laugh probably didn't even hear me just kept on talking and talking and I cut her off after about 20 minutes and that was hard to do since she never missed a beat or took a breath it seemed. Her conversation was one long rambling sentence it seemed like. So, I told her that I couldn't do it anymore. She sounded surprised and asked me what I was talking about. I explained that I couldn't sit here and listen any more to this conversation of gloom and doom and that I needed her to tell me something good something positive that has happened to her over the last year. There had to be at least one thing. After a few minutes of silence on both ends I told her that I guess she didn't have anything so I had to go and the next time she calls me I might just let it go to voice mail. And somehow if it does I don't think that she will be surprised.
I used to listen to her for hours. I would say to myself maybe she doesn't have anyone else to talk to so I will be the friend who listens. Sometimes all someone needs is an ear to listen to you vent. Well, after many years of doing this I have come to the decision today that I can't do it anymore. She is too draining for me and too not positive. The older she gets the more she has to complain about. Yes, she even complained about getting older. She even complained about a guy whistling at her the other day at the gas station. I was like well, you are one lucky lady nobody has whistled at me in years. I was hoping that I was bringing some humor in the conversation but she didn't laugh probably didn't even hear me just kept on talking and talking and I cut her off after about 20 minutes and that was hard to do since she never missed a beat or took a breath it seemed. Her conversation was one long rambling sentence it seemed like. So, I told her that I couldn't do it anymore. She sounded surprised and asked me what I was talking about. I explained that I couldn't sit here and listen any more to this conversation of gloom and doom and that I needed her to tell me something good something positive that has happened to her over the last year. There had to be at least one thing. After a few minutes of silence on both ends I told her that I guess she didn't have anything so I had to go and the next time she calls me I might just let it go to voice mail. And somehow if it does I don't think that she will be surprised.
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