Face Slapping Moments

Hello.

Have you ever stood side by side with someone working towards the same cause or event and then something subtle happens and you discover the person you thought was on the same page as you, for the same reasons, turns out to be completely different?

Those types of moments are the ones I call "Face Slapping Moments." I've had a few of them over the years.

When my six-year-old was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 12:00 AM on September 12, 1992 (think I remember?), the Asian doctor pulled me aside for what I thought would be a moment of delicate explanation of my son's tumor but as it turned out the very first words out of his mouth were, "La-dee, you had a beet-er chance of winnin the lottry than gettin this toomr."

Face Slapping Moment.

When my extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins) were soon to arrive at my home for a family outing to the Saratoga Race Track, I checked my e-mail one last time when my finger slipped on a computer key and a history report of the last month's internet use popped up on the screen and I noticed someone had been accessing porno sites...

Face Slapping Moment.

When I watched my beautiful eighteen-year-old daughter stand next to her prom date on our front lawn and looked over to the side and saw my nineteen-year-old son, watching, smiling and clapping while jumping up and down...

Another Face Slapping Moment.

I try very, very hard in my life to not be surprised by people, events, stuff. I have a whole array of defense mechanisms to keep me near enough and far enough from people, events and stuff so as not to feel pain or disappointment. I have a whole array of vocabulary and reasoning methods to ease the FSM. It's really sad.

This morning another FSM occurred. I live in a small and nice sub-division in Saratoga Springs. I am blessed beyond belief to have a home like I have and if it wasn't for my husband's past home ownings, I wouldn't be here; but that's another story. Anyways, there is a small 17 acre parcel across the street from the back of my home that a developer is purchasing and wants to put houses on. As you can imagine there are many questions and concerns about this. I mean, the right kind of home could boost my home's value-right? The wrong kind could do the opposite. (And as I am learning...it's all about defending the borders and the bottom line. Right?) The developer is planning a meeting with the sub-division the Thursday before the Labor Day weekend. Many of us (including me) will be away. I spoke with the developer and he eventually agreed to another meeting in September. I asked him for a date and he said he'd set one at the Thursday meeting. (which doesn't help me cuz I'm NOT going to be at the meeting but alas...) I told him to speak with this fella, who is taking up the lead in our quest for information, and give him the date. I then emailed the fella to ask him to let me know of the date. Well, FSM, turns out this gentleman doesn't want to be volunteered to get a date from the developer and he is pissed I asked him if he'd do it. What gives? I thought we were all on the same page...get info...ask questions...take the next step if need be. And before I say anything more...

You know, you never know.

Have hope?
Donna