When my kids were young I worked the 3-11 shift two evenings
a week as a unit secretary in the pediatrics ward of the local hospital. It was
interesting work - answering phones,
scheduling tests, transcribing orders, and a hundred other tasks. I really
enjoyed it, probably because it was part-time.
I didn’t get tangled up in the day-to-day
politics and feuds that you find in full-time jobs.
Yesterday our
condo had its monthly ladies luncheon. Nothing fancy – just a trip to a local
restaurant for anyone who wants to go. I had a ride with the woman who
organized it, B., and two other women.
B. is a semi-recent divorcee who is
still finding her path on the road of single living. She can be a force of
nature, isn’t short on opinion, but her heart’s in the right place. Still, if I
pass her building walking Mamie (she’s on the third floor and her dog barks
when he sees anyone from her porch), she’ll suddenly materialize as I round the
corner. A little overwhelming.
The day
before the luncheon, my next door neighbor, S__y (who you’ll recall is the
rebel duck feeder) asked if I needed a ride. I had already accepted B.’s offer,
so I said no thanks.
As we took
our places at the table, B. somehow jumped ahead of someone I’d just been talking
to and snagged the chair next to me. S__y was across from me, an interesting
development since B. had been full of schemes to report S__y’s duck habits.
We still had
a few empty chairs, but were told more were on their way, a woman named C__y
among them.
S___y immediately turned to her
neighbor and began whispering.
To bring you
up to speed :
S___y used to
organize Thursday get-togethers, but somehow this put C__y’s nose out of joint.
C___y
organized Sunday get-togethers, which S___y and her husband never, ever
attended.
We had an
end-of-the-year pool party two weeks ago, organized by C__y. S__y did not attend.
S__y and
friends threw together an impromptu pool party on Monday, but C__y did not
attend.
I love it
here, but getting back home to Massachusetts next week is looking pretty good.
There’s a lot
to be said for part-time.
I know garden club and book club ladies who don't talk to each other. What a waste.
ReplyDeleteSigh. Politicking (where-ever it occurs) is something I try and avoid.
ReplyDeleteSocialization is great but sometimes it can go off the rails.
ReplyDeleteTacky, very tacky on the part of these women. But it makes for interesting speculation as to why. :-)
ReplyDeleteIsn't that sort of petty feuding supposed to be left behind when High School is over?
ReplyDeleteI think I get lost with the blanks, but I get the general idea about petty feelings and things.
ReplyDeleteJust trying not to put in anyone's actual name. Instead of Cathy (not her name) I wrote C___y
Deletesounds like each sees you as a possible ally. you'd think that at this age women would be beyond all that.
ReplyDeleteDon't you wish they would just get on with it and pull each others hair out and put an end to their pettiness:)
ReplyDelete