applecruncher
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- Location
- Ohio USA
The "flaking" thread reminded me of something that happened several years ago.
A couple of friends and I were talking the other night about how people who repeatedly change arrangements can put a damper on an event.
Cousin Dan and his wife Barb live in another state. They are retired professionals, very healthy, active, energetic. Attractive, interesting people. They travel a lot and although they don’t actually see many other relatives they keep in touch via phone, snail mail, and email a couple times a year. I’ve always thought highly of them, and they have a reputation as kind, very polite/socially gracious people.
One evening I received a call from Barb…touching base/chatting….she mentioned that they were coming to an event at Dan’s alma mater in my city in a few months and asked if they could come by for a visit (she gave me the date and said they would be spending the weekend at a hotel). I said “Sure” and looked forward to it.
A week before the event, I got a call from Dan, (a reminder and also a nice chat). The event was to take place on a Saturday afternoon, and they would freshen up at the hotel then come visit me early evening. Since I hadn’t seen them in several years, I was excited. They were also bringing their daughter Gail (adult, single) who had flown in from a different state.
I got up early that day, went out and bought some special bakery snacks, got a haircut, made sure my place was super clean and neat. About 5PM I got a call from Dan……he said that the even had run longer than they expected, they were enroute to a friend’s house
and would probably be over around 7PM. At 6:30 Dan called again and apologized...said they were really tired/burned out and they would visit me in a few months when they came back to the area.......(huh?)
I was disappointed,
but nice about it. {“Awwww, darn, that’s a shame….was looking forward to seeing you,,,,,,well, call and let me know when you’re coming to town again.”) It was a letdown, but I was gracious about it (I felt).
Late Sunday morning (about 11AM) I was doing some gardening and I get a voicemail from Barb (Dan’s wife). “Hi, we’re on our way to take Gail to the airport and we’re going stop by your place.” I called back; said "Oh. Okay." (They were a few streets away.) Within a couple minutes there they were…….pulling up across the street! (They took it for granted I’d be home, and not in the shower or otherwise indisposed.) They came in, didn’t want the bakery treats, asked for cold water. We had a decent chat, but Barb and Gail asked me to turn on TV so they could watch golf. I started to tell them a story and attempted to show some photos, but they said “Sorry, we need to get going; Gail has to catch a plane.” Then Barb took out her camera, snapped a photo of me, there were hugs and they left.
I was glad to see them, but…….sheesh.
The spur of the moment call caught me off guard. I should have said "Oh, that's won't work for me, I'm on my way out, maybe we can get together another time, bye".
I feel they were very presumptuous and disrespectful of my time. They haven't been back for another "visit" .....a few brief notes/emails.......but never an apology or admission of wrongdoing on their part. Oh, well.
A couple of friends and I were talking the other night about how people who repeatedly change arrangements can put a damper on an event.
Cousin Dan and his wife Barb live in another state. They are retired professionals, very healthy, active, energetic. Attractive, interesting people. They travel a lot and although they don’t actually see many other relatives they keep in touch via phone, snail mail, and email a couple times a year. I’ve always thought highly of them, and they have a reputation as kind, very polite/socially gracious people.
One evening I received a call from Barb…touching base/chatting….she mentioned that they were coming to an event at Dan’s alma mater in my city in a few months and asked if they could come by for a visit (she gave me the date and said they would be spending the weekend at a hotel). I said “Sure” and looked forward to it.
A week before the event, I got a call from Dan, (a reminder and also a nice chat). The event was to take place on a Saturday afternoon, and they would freshen up at the hotel then come visit me early evening. Since I hadn’t seen them in several years, I was excited. They were also bringing their daughter Gail (adult, single) who had flown in from a different state.
I got up early that day, went out and bought some special bakery snacks, got a haircut, made sure my place was super clean and neat. About 5PM I got a call from Dan……he said that the even had run longer than they expected, they were enroute to a friend’s house
I was disappointed,
Late Sunday morning (about 11AM) I was doing some gardening and I get a voicemail from Barb (Dan’s wife). “Hi, we’re on our way to take Gail to the airport and we’re going stop by your place.” I called back; said "Oh. Okay." (They were a few streets away.) Within a couple minutes there they were…….pulling up across the street! (They took it for granted I’d be home, and not in the shower or otherwise indisposed.) They came in, didn’t want the bakery treats, asked for cold water. We had a decent chat, but Barb and Gail asked me to turn on TV so they could watch golf. I started to tell them a story and attempted to show some photos, but they said “Sorry, we need to get going; Gail has to catch a plane.” Then Barb took out her camera, snapped a photo of me, there were hugs and they left.
I was glad to see them, but…….sheesh.
The spur of the moment call caught me off guard. I should have said "Oh, that's won't work for me, I'm on my way out, maybe we can get together another time, bye".
I feel they were very presumptuous and disrespectful of my time. They haven't been back for another "visit" .....a few brief notes/emails.......but never an apology or admission of wrongdoing on their part. Oh, well.
