Sunday, December 31, 2006

Happy New Year


It's New Year's Eve and we are getting a slow start around here, but that is what vacation is all about. Tonight for a change we are going to our neighbors for their New Year's Eve bash. Change is good!

The newspaper this morning had a big article about New Years resolutions; setting them and then failing. And why do people fail? Because their resolutions are too grandiose most of the time, unattainable.

I would like to report that I did a pretty good job on my resolution from last year. I saw a short coming in myself and did my best to correct it. And what was this task? Returning answering machine messages. Faithful patrons to the cafe know about my love/ hate relationship with the phone. This attitude extends to the phone's evil ally, the answering machine. Here's a sample of my former behavior. Remember, this is the OLD me.

Me: (shouting) How long has this light been blinking in here?

Everyone else:

Me: When did the phone ring? When I was at the store?

(Marco comes in and frantically licks my hands.)

Me: Yuck! (wipes off one hand and pushes the button)

BEEP!

Somebody on Scout business: Hey, Jennifer. I was wondering if you still have that form blah, blah, blah...

Me: No...

Scout person: We were going to blah, blah, blah...

Me: Good for you...

Scout person on overdrive: If you could call me back tonight or tomorrow or blah, blah, blah...

Me: Doubt it...

BEEP!

Somebody on school business: Jennifer, as you know our annual blah, blah, blah...

Me: How could I forget...

School person: If you could be willing to blah, blah, blah...

Me: Oh, I'm sooooo willing....

School person, pouring on the charm: blah, blah, blah, so much fun, blah, blah, blah, call me!

Me: Ugh!

BEEP!

So that was me. Being snarky to the answering machine and never returning phone calls. When I would get called out on this -- "You never called me back!" -- I would blame the machine, the kids, a power outage, anything but myself. It was shameful.
So I made my resolution to returning all calls and promptly. But it wasn't easy. No sir. As much as wanted just to walk away and forget I heard anything, a little voice would pipe up "New Years!" And with a huge sigh, I would reach for a pen to write down the number, even (*GASP*) listening to the whole message again to make sure I wrote it down right. Then.... I would call.

I'm certain no one noticed this self-improvement. People usually only take note of rude behavior and then only when it happens to them. Everyday is still a struggle though. I'll never be completely cured of blowing off the answering machine and right now I'm probably only running at 75% return rate, but that's a hell of a lot better than 0%! So to bolster my efforts, my resolution again this year will be to return all calls. There are no support groups for this kind of thing; I'm a woman alone on this frontier. But if you wanted to find some way to help me, probably the best thing to do is to stop leaving messages.

So, what's your resolution?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, you have been better about this! And discerning patrons know there's at least a chance of hearing back from you.

Unfortunately, my resolution was to erase all amswering machine messages before you coud see them. I thought I was helping....

This year's resolution? Maybe I'll try to get a decent amount o sleep.

Nance said...

J.--I detest the telephone. But, I do return phone calls because--now, think of this--it pretty much guarantees that the person WILL NOT HAVE TO CALL AGAIN WITH THE SAME BUSINESS. Thus quieting the phone. Ta da! Also, you allow your children to be involved in...things. This means that you, by default, are likewise involved. This was a major faux pas on your part at the get-go. Pull your children out of everything extra immediately. It will cut down on phone calls immensely. Next, pay the extra $2 to have an unlisted phone number. Finally, instead of giving people your phone number, give them your email address. Tell them that it is the most effective way of reaching you since you are rarely home and/or have dialup internet and the children are always online. There! I helped!!!!!!!!!!

J. said...

I do, honestly, know all that. And calling people back works. I learned a lesson there. And I've bluntly told people that calling me is a futile thing, but emailing will get the job done everytime.

As for the kids being involved in things, at this point, what's done is done!