dates

I'm really bad with dates. I usually think of an important date about a week before. "Next week is Mom's birthday, I have to remember to call Mom on her birthday. She will be crushed if I forget again." And just a couple of days before I'll think about it. Maybe write myself a note or something. The next thing I know it's the day after her birthday. I call. She pretends like it doesn't bother her. "Of course, you're in Taiwan, you didn't know what day it was." I can do simple time-zone subtraction. I'm just inconsiderate.

The same thing happened today with a pretty important anniversary. I thought about it last week. Wondered if I should call. Ultimately I decided it would be inappropriate. Then the day went by without a thought. Until I read your blog this morning. You had a first date on our would-be anniversary. I hope you didn't mention that to him.

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Janet Wisniewski

Janet (name changed) is a volunteer at work. I wish I were more adept at describing personalities, but I'm not. This story will suffice.

Janet brought in what we thought was a donation. Some travel magazines and sunglasses. I don't know why she would bring us those particular items, but volunteers often bring in weird things from home that they think we can donate to refugees. (Fisher Price record players, retro suitcases, over-sized western shirts...) After Janet went out into the Terminal for her shift, we sorted through her things. I tried on the large plastic framed sunglasses and then threw them into the trash.

Hours pass and Janet returned to the office to collect her things. "Hey, where is that bag of stuff I gave you?"

"I'm not sure Janet, what was in it?"

"2 pairs of sunglasses and some magazines"

shit shit shit I think to myself. I threw away her sunglasses. I've misunderstood. This was not a donation at all. I picture my coworkers and I laughing about the ridiculous glasses before throwing them in the trash. We are bad people. "Well, we are moving offices so a lot of stuff has been misplaced. I'm sure we will find them by next week."

Janet was determined. "I need my sunglasses. I have very sensitive eyes, and I can't go out without my sunglasses".

Just in time my coworker distracted Janet by leading her into the back room. I quickly retrieved the sunglasses from the trash and stashed them in a desk drawer.

"Oh look, Janet, someone put them in this drawer."

"Oh good, I don't know why someone would have done that".

I don't think she suspected anything unusual.

The next week Janet called in due to an eye infection. I felt nothing.

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