I'm a fan of writer Carol Bonomo, who's the author of Humble Pie and also The Abbey Up the Hill. She's a former Episcopalian turned Catholic, and has a wonderful way of describing herself. She's tough in that she's impatient with her Christian walk, expecting a lot of herself, also admitting her tendency to having a temper.
Had to laugh when I read this line in the Abbey book: "I seem to have been born slamming doors shut behind me and then wondering where everybody went."
I seem to have a knack for offending folks, well, not all the time, but a significant amount of the time. I tend to be a WYSIWYG sort of person, and it appears, many times that's not really an appreciated character trait. The people I tend to butt heads with are more the sort who like to be buttered up. Maybe it's because I'm in the South. I don't know. I do have the ability to name a list of people in my past who aren't fond of me anymore. And the funny thing is this: People don't tend to want to accept your forgiveness when you admit to screwing up. At least that's my experience. You can make folks mad as all get out, but after a bit, try to clean up the situation and ask for them to accept an apology and, my goodness, you might as well be pulling their teeth. It ain't gonna happen. I think grudge-holding is a national past-time.
So the slammed doors part of her quote made me laugh. Shut door, empty room, and yeah, that's me sitting in the lone chair.
I'm suspicious of folks (usually women) who act all darling to your face, but will snipe at you behind your back. Well really, who likes that trait? Seems many are able to overlook it, though. I just don't happen to be one of them.
Lest I give the impression that I'm a monster, I'm really not. Faithful. That's what I am. I'll stick to you like glue if you'll just be yourself. Don't play like you're something you're not. And if you say you'll do a particular thing, do it. Try to avoid saying just what you think I want to hear you say. That's a big no-no. I might not like it, but I'll respect you for shootin' me straight.
That is all.
