Ask Annie for Mar. 3, 2004 Dear Annie,
I know you'll take offense to this, but don't older people ever realize how boring they are? Do they ever just not talk if they don't have anything to say? I'm working as a temp at an office with two old ladies who talk nonstop about their kids, who are all grown up and getting old themselves, or their upcoming vacations, their pets or their medical problems. You don't hear me blabbing on about my new car, or what my cat ate for breakfast. Thank God I only have one more week of this! Sorry, but if I didn't blow off steam somewhere this weekend, I might go nuts Monday morning!
Miss Temp, Centralia, WA
Dear Miss,
Apparently you assume I'll take offense because I'm "older?" I may be older than you, but I've got a good twenty some years before I qualify for any senior discounts, missy. Women process things by talking about them. It may drive men, and young women like you, nuts, but too bad. Men could learn a thing or two and live a lot longer if they'd uncork the stuff they've got bottled up inside and let go of some of it once in a while. As for you, I think you're still young enough to think you're the center of the known universe, and if you were the topic of conversation, you'd be just fine with all their blabbing. What are they supposed to talk about, living in rural Washington, working and taking care of their households, Vegas nightlife? By the time this is in print, you'll be temping somewhere else. Please try to be more patient with people. A happy life's not necessarily an exciting life, but still, people want to talk and be listened to. Chit chat happens! Enjoy it!
Annie
Please write to: Annie, P.O. Box 1084, Eatonville,WA 98328
E-mail: letters_annie@hotmail.com
Past Ask Annies:
Mar. 3, 2004 Complaining about Boring Older Peoples' Talk
Feb. 25, 2004 Give Kid's Items to Food Bank
Jan. 28, 2004 Bad Phone Manners
Jan. 21, 2004 Avoid Church Because of Flu?
Jan. 14, 2004 Boyfriend Breakup But Gift, Also Relative Tells Private Life
Dec. 24, 2003 Memories of Good Parents
Dec. 17, 2003 Christmas Gift for Wife?
Dec. 10, 2003 Thanks to Food Bank Helpers
Dec. 3, 2003 Child's Names on Belongings & Appreciating Family at Holidays
Nov. 26, 2003 Big Family Thanksgiving with Paper Plates
Nov. 12, 2003 Husband Driven Nuts To Do Crafts By Wife
Nov. 5, 2003 Dreading Husband's Retirement
Oct. 29, 2003 Move back home from boyfriend's house?
Oct. 22, 2003 Did I raise my daughter to do these things?
Oct. 15, 2003 Misunderstanding about School Workers' Kindness
Oct. 8, 2003 Prayer for Brown Sisters Killed and Change Schoolyear to Oct.1 to June 30
Oct. 1, 2003 Response About Non-tipping Lotto Winner
Sept. 24, 2003 Church-goers Inattentive
Sept. 17, 2003 Friend Sells My Stuff on Ebay
Sept. 10, 2003 Lottery Winner Didn't Tip Clerk
Sept. 3, 2003 Business Insults to Consumers
Aug. 27, 2003 Divison of Wedding Expense
Aug. 20, 2003 School Workers' Kindness & Men's Attractiveness
Aug. 13, 2003 Attractiveness Hints
Aug. 6, 2003 Annie's Husband's Accident at Work
July 30, 2003 Deer Automatic Sprinkler Best & Stores Don't Stock Washington Clothes
July 23, 2003 Scarecrows and Halloween Decorations Scare Off Prowlers Too
July 16, 2003 Redhead Asks Attractiveness Advice
July 2, 2002 Atomatic Deer Scarecrow Blasts Prowler