Monday, November 17, 2008

Why do people have to be such jerks and why do I have to be so sensitive?


Tonight there was an opening at the laundry room to do laundry. In my apartment there is free laundry but we have times that each unit has to do it. It's a courtesy thing. Tonight I saw that unit 22 had booked a time from 5-8. It was 7 o'clock and I really needed to get some washing done. I knocked on apartment 22 door to ask if they would be doing laundry and if not could I sneak in. There was no answer so I decided to put a load of clothes in since it was near the end of the apartment 22 time and all.At 7:20, I went to get my laundry out of the washer to put in the dryer and who was there to great me? Apartment 22. He was grumpy and mad. He said to me" so your the one cutting in on my laundry time?" I said" I'm so sorry, I did knock on your door to ask if you would be doing laundry, but no one answered!" He did not respond back. I looked around the laundry room in search of my laundry as he was already filling the washer with his dirty clothes. I reached for the dryer , thinking that maybe this man was not so grumpy after all and decided to start my clean clothes a drying. No such luck. As I reached for the dryer, he grumpily grunted at me, " I put them in there" gesturing to the yucky laundry sink. I will not tell you the thoughts that were going through my head at this point. This grumpy man was so ticked I had taken his laundry time that he pulled out my panties from the dryer and plunked them into the laundry sink. I wanted to say " did you have a bad day, or are you always this grumpy?" I did not. Instead, I once again apologized and waited for him to clear off so I could humbly take my clean unmentionables out of the nasty laundry sink and slink back to my apartment and hang them up to air dry all over every piece of furniture that I own. I started to fume, and became upset to the point of tears. How could this guy treat me and my undies like this? What did I ever do to him? There has been many times that others have over lapsed on my laundry time, but I did not sweat it. So why did this guy have to be such a jerk to me? I hope it's because he had a bad day and not that he is a grumpy old man. My human nature wants to go take out his laundry and throw it in the nasty laundry sink. But I will not. Maybe I should get him something nice for Christmas and leave it on his door step. Maybe a free coupon saying that he can borrow some of my laundry time if he feels a need! What do you think?

7 comments:

Muhd Imran said...

Some people are just rude by nature. Most probably from all the bad things they had to go through to make them what they are today.

I think I would have reacted differently than you, but that's just a guy thing.

As for you, I think you responded with utmost courtesy knowing that you were at his slot time, giving the doubt that he probably was away when you knocked on his door.

Maybe you may want to slip your neighbor a note under his/her door if you need to borrow a slot next time when no one answers.

A peace offering is a good thing. Maybe he'll change his attitude towards another human being and even life itself with such kind acts. There are still nice people in the world.

If not, you really have got nothing to loose, but you will come out feeling better about yourself than anyone can.

Like all wars, no one will benefit from starting one.

I think you're a wonderful person and I think Wifey and I would love to have you as our neighbor.

Take care and have a good week.

wandi said...

Thanks so much Imran. I would enjoy being yours and wifey's neighbor too. You gave me a great idea and I think I will slip a note under his door only to offer some kindness. Maybe no one has shown him kindness in a very long time.

ladybird39pm said...

Yes Wandi My mom taught me it is better to turn the negitive into positive. It is like heaping burning coals on his head. when return kindness back to him. buy him a box of chocolates for Christmas, even the cheap kind and wish him a Merry Christmas.
I may have that mixed up.I think it is scripture to return kindness. I'll look it up for you see if I can find it. love you Momma

J. Andrew Lockhart said...

you're much nicer than I am! :)

Jen said...

I think leaving something outside his apartment door is a great idea. How about a flaming bag of dog poop?

I kid.

What a creep. I doubt that I'd be as nice as you.

Wanda said...

I think you may have an "Elizabeth" in Apt. 22. Perhaps a lonely old man. I think you handled it with much grace and Muhd Imran said it well.

I would probably just bake him a batch of chocolate cookies and wrap them in a pair of panties...
Just kidding... forget the last part!!

Loving on you....Wanda

ladybird39pm said...

Maybe put exlax in with the chocolate chip cookies
Thats your dads idea