June 8, 2013
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old ladies
Save me from old women. Warning. I might be offensive. The odds are good. Although old is not an age, it’s an attitude. Right? Right.
Yesterday, Spawn and I went out for a treat at Panera (because I had an errand I didn’t want to do and wanted company). As we’re sitting there this older couple came in. The guy had that spacey look that men out with their wives sometimes have. It became very clear within seconds, why he had that look. Because she was so clearly dissatisfied with the condition of the table she wanted to sit at. Vocally. So vocal, that a very patient worker came over to take care of it. Then she was dissatisfied with the seat. And dissatisfied with how the seat was wiped. And that it was wet. And she just went on and on. And then she noticed that her husband didn’t get exactly what he ordered and wanted him to complain about it. He declined. Apparently she does all the complaining in that union. Made our little treat a little less enjoyable, I have to say.
This morning, I had the pleasure of being “in charge” of the prep work for this ridiculous strawberry social at church tomorrow. I don’t want to be in charge, let’s keep that in mind. I must have been asleep or drugged when I agreed to this. I might not have even actually agreed to it. But there it is. So there I am, showing up on time with the berries. The whole crew was there already waiting on me. I was on time, I didn’t apologize. Anyhow. This one lady. Holy crap. She needs to sit. So I bring her a chair. The chair is too low, so I searched out a stool. She needs help getting on the stool, so I helped her get on. She’s too far away from the counter, so I pushed her in. She needs paper towels, so I hand her paper towels. She needs another paper towel, so I hand her another paper towel. She got strawberry juice on her pants and was having a cow. I did not help her clean her pants. I did not even feel sorry for her. Because, hello! we’re cleaning strawberries, did you expect to stay clean? I handed and helped and only rolled my eyes inside my head instead of outside. Dear old lady. You are not helping. Next time just stay home. I’m just glad I got someone else to transport her. Because being her personal nursemaid used up all my nice. The other older ladies got their own chairs and didn’t whinge about everything. They are sweet.
Also, I hate “BBQ” aka sloppy joe. It’s disgusting.
In other news, my beloved children are still sleeping. It’s a beautiful thing. Perhaps they will be nice when they get up.
I think I might be able to paint now. How cool is that.
Comments (48)
Some people are just never satisfied, and won’t shut up until everyone knows it for miles around. Blech.
But how will you know she’s important if she doesn’t demand things?
Painting sounds like it will be good for you.
@lanney - you make me laugh. you are going to be one Wicked old lady. just sayin’ ;)
People like that are…trials. Is what they are. hmm. I wonder if there is an entry for ‘old lady’ in my spirit animal book.
What is a strawberry social and why wasn’t I invited?
@distractedbyzombies - because it’s not actually very social. i think i might be a little tightly strung right now. i got invited to go to a meeting about my summer job and i started crying. yup. tightly strung.
@lanney - speaking of important people, spawn is up now.
@leaflesstree - yup.
You are so funny. I loved reading that
But sometimes people are like that. There are the whiners and the ones who complains about everything. I am sure if I had to deal with one like that, I too would have not been nice. 
Loved your telling of this. Thanks so much for making me laugh!
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@nuhege07 - i’m weak from albert’s story.
@armnatmom - i’m glad you laughed.
@angys_coco - :)
Bwa Ha Ha Ha Ha! Just one day of that old lady? I am no good at organizing things or group socializing – but I “adopted” an old lady like that at our church. She was taking up WAY too much of the pastors’ time. She would tell the same stories about how her step mother mistreated her 40 years ago -and her family was mad at her – and yes – how nothing was right about anything! I did that for 10 years! She was hopeless! She was never going to change and never did. I picked her up and took her to church for 10 years. Took her to bible study too. There was no fixing of her to be done. That is just what life had done to her. She had gone through several therapists and rejected them all. She needed someone to talk to and NO ONE wanted to listen – NO ONE. So I just listened. And listened. Over and over. 10 years. She also wanted to help – but the fact is – she could not help – and whenever she tried – it always ended up someone helping her. Poor old lady! She could never escape the hell she had built for herself! Never! It followed her right to death. I should say, my wife probably did much more with her than I did. But she was hopeless. That did not matter. She was still human.
@Donkey_Guy_10 - you are pretty much a saint donkey. i just don’t have that much nice in me. although i do feel guilty, if that counts for anything. i’m more patient with kids.
@promisesunshine - Oh! Well – we all do our own things! You have different talents! I would never have the patience to organize anything at a church! Or so many other things! Just use the talents you have and forget the guilt!
. . . . why was that old fellow still with the complaining old bitty? I liked how he didn’t complain in spite of her demands.
@vexations - because he blocks it all out. i almost thanked him for not complaining.
It is funny when we are someplace and something really bugs me Jeff just looks at me and says ok we will move and he will wait as I decide lol it is funny I never have to fuss….
I always feel sorry for the workers when things like that happen how had would it have been to get a napkin and wipe off the chair
@SisterMae - we weren’t exactly at the palace. i hope i never act like that.
An example of how a little person tries to make themselves feel important.
@Bricker59 - people are so damn complicated.
I use up most of my nice every day with my 95 yr. old mother, who’s still complaining about her mother who wouldn’t let her boyfriend in the house. This was after her divorce, and my brother and I were glad because we didn’t like him.
@ata_grandma - you are a good person. i’m sure you do get plenty frustrated, taking care of people is exhausting.
This story reminds me of some of the people who volunteer/work in nursery and wear their white slacks or new blouse and then complain if a baby spits up on it. What do they expect coming into a nursery? and who were they trying to impress dressing like that? We used to provide aprons, but noone except a few of us long time regulars would wear them.
You are right that old age is not a number. There are some perky spy older folks, and then crochety, grumpy, un-satisfied younger ones. (and of course vice versa). It depends on the individual and the choices they make.
@Crystalinne - seriously.
@promisesunshine - ooops I meant to say Spry not spy, but I think you got my point.
Some people are born that way – age has no bearing on it! (I’m pretty sure). Hope it was a teachable moment with Spawn – you catch more flies with honey than vinegar!
Painting sounds great
I really dislike people who is always eaither complaining or bitching about something… brother and I have this theory, “we can’t stand bitchiness cuz my mom fulfill our lifetime share of it” LOL I’m sorry you had to hear/deal with the ladies, sometimes is really so annoying you can’t get pass trough it and shrug…
Glad your girls slept good, I read somewhere that lack of sleep is the main source of sour mood in young people :O
I need to sleep someday too
@meddwl - me too.
@murisopsis - negative people drive me crazy. and so do helpless ones.
hmmmm. I am sure I was no where near where you are.
I complain some, but not like that old lady. You are so funny Carrie.
Where do I send the bill for spewing soda on keyboard after reading this…
It’s why I seldom eat out in the daylight. But then again, in the wee hours, there are just as many freaks out. Some people think they’re more important than others and make sure every one knows it.
@Zoz36 - this time it’s free of charge.
@ZSA_MD - you are a sweet person and you’re not old anyhow.
I have a neighbor like the first old lady…or rather two. It is really amusing. Their patio is like 4 meters away from my window, but they don’t see me because there is a hedge between the properties. So they are always just being themselves. The woman always …well ‘nags’ is a too soft word, but she doesn’t yell either…say she always shouts at her husband in a really high pitched voice. “what did you do there again! I DO NOT WANT IT THAT WAY! You really get NOTHING! NOTHING” *he mumbles something* “The BEAUTIFUL lawn!! stop trampling on it!”
If you don’t know them, you think she is THE horrible one and he just suffers. But I knew him before he married her, and back then HE was just the same. He was renting his house to a young family back then, and EVERY week he’d come around to control the garden. It’s not like they didn’t water it or mow the lawn. (and even if…THEY were living there; he could have gotten the money back from them later.) He complained about daisies growing on the lawn, and said the woman should pluck them out instead of “lazily sitting in her garden chair”. They had some wooden thing to put plants on, in a natural wood color. And he “kindly” painted it green so it’d fit to the carport. He aso threatened to shoot my uncles cat (which is forbidden here), should it ever scratch at his tree again. Just a few years ago he complained that the space between our house and his carport (which he only seens wen he goes behind the carport and looks over the hedge is not pretty and he has to look at it. So I know they deserve each other and find it funny
.
@under_the_carpet - that cracked me up.
Age IS an attitude. And I think people who are unhappy, snarky, unsatisfied, etc., as an old person, have always been that way. I think the key to being a happy, cooperative, satisfied, kind older person is to work on being that way when a person is young…
I admire people who work with seniors every day! God bless ‘em!!!
But, I must say, these older folks gave me a laugh today!
Or maybe it was the way you told it! 
Thanks! 
I loves BBQ and Sloppy Joes! I loves Neat Joes, too!
HUGS and hope you got to paint!!!
@adamswomanback - i like joe in a cup. i also admire people who take care of our elders. and i’m doing my best to be a kind old fart.(by being something like a kind middle-aged fart)
you may have my share of sloppy joe.
Sometimes I have the same feeling with you guys, but sometimes when I’m in good mood, I just let it go:) Good Luck, guys!
OMG…my mother is reincarnated already!
Waitwaitwaitholdthefuckingboat. How is sloppy joe considered bbq here.
@onestepcloserto_perfection - i know, right? it’s a western pa thing or something. not that i’m in western pa. but when i hear bbq, i’m looking for real meat and a bib. not some bits of hamburger on a bun. deesgusting.
nothing else seems remotely appropriate as a response.
@moniet - i think i’ll just
@promisesunshine - I would probably throat punch someone if they told me I was getting BBQ and then they gave me a sloppy joe.
It sounds like she thought she was important or something lol
Old ladies have their uses. Any port in a storm.
@promisesunshine - lol Seriously, she WAS that woman in church! OMG I didn’t know there was more than one of them!
Would you like to hear my difficult old lady story? No. I’ll tell it anyway. We were volunteers training to be literacy tutors. One wrinkly old broad had mobility problems, and I gave her an arm to help her to her seat. From this point on, she treated me like an escort, getting snippy when any other woman dared to talk to me. She failed all the tests and exercises we were given. And I noticed she had no problem getting from point A to point B when she thought no-one was looking.
@we_deny_everything - i enjoyed your old lady story. thanks
this is proof that it is bad to be nice to people. it’s also bad to be competent. but that’s another story.
@promisesunshine - hah!! I am not old?? I am sure I am older than your mother. But hey, thanks. I will take that compliment any time.
@ZSA_MD - i think you might not be. my mother is not always an old lady too. just sometimes.
Insufferable old ladies were once insufferable teenagers.
@Inciteful - yikes.