You see, I’m historically a bit of a doormat unless I get angry; then I’m just a jerk. Especially in the fall and winter. Ask Abby's dad.
January 2nd there was a snafu regarding my internet bill: an overpayment because of an old account. Which wouldn’t be a big deal if they didn’t keep trying to contact my late husband (he’s been dead since August 2016 and the bill has been in my name for about eight months). I find this very frustrating and mildly offensive, not to mention the wave of sadness that comes each time something like this happens.
In the past I would have either a) wept, apologized for something I didn't do, and taken whatever sop they felt like giving me - if they felt like it at all, or b) turned into a raging asshat and demanded my money-plus-interest back from some hapless support rep who had the misfortune to answer the phone.
But that day I achieved kind-but-firm. And that with the sort of hangover that one gets not from alcohol but from a solid ten days of overindulgence capped with a five-kid sleepover.
Before coffee.
I got my overpayment back on the debit card, a confirmation in writing that they removed his name entirely from my account, and a sincere-sounding apology for the confusion. And so now I have my mantra for 2020...
January 2nd there was a snafu regarding my internet bill: an overpayment because of an old account. Which wouldn’t be a big deal if they didn’t keep trying to contact my late husband (he’s been dead since August 2016 and the bill has been in my name for about eight months). I find this very frustrating and mildly offensive, not to mention the wave of sadness that comes each time something like this happens.
In the past I would have either a) wept, apologized for something I didn't do, and taken whatever sop they felt like giving me - if they felt like it at all, or b) turned into a raging asshat and demanded my money-plus-interest back from some hapless support rep who had the misfortune to answer the phone.
But that day I achieved kind-but-firm. And that with the sort of hangover that one gets not from alcohol but from a solid ten days of overindulgence capped with a five-kid sleepover.
Before coffee.
I got my overpayment back on the debit card, a confirmation in writing that they removed his name entirely from my account, and a sincere-sounding apology for the confusion. And so now I have my mantra for 2020...
 |
| A cartoon rendition of me, a chubby white woman with wavy streaked brown hair. The first shows me smiling and says "Do no harm." The second shows me with a raised fist and says, "But take no crap." |
It's kind of a big deal for me, to not make resolutions (which I will later feel guilty for if when they don't get kept, even if the reasons are out of my control). Not even goals, as I did a couple years ago (last year there was nothing from December 28th until the Snowpocalypse in mid-February!).
Just... do what I do... but be better (ew! Can't use that phrase, I find, in the same way that I can no longer use lower-case-t trump except when actually playing cards).
Okay, so not "be better," then. Just do no harm but take no crap.
As for the current socio-political situation, well... I just can't right now. I'm aware of it, I'm hoping for the best and preparing for the worst, but there's not a lot I can do about it. My congressfolk have been called and further than that I have little political power until election day. If I dwell overlong today I will end up in the fetal position in a corner with my thumb in my mouth. That would do harm to me, my kids, my employer, and my family.
So I will do no harm..
But I will take no crap..
