I just got a personal message on my FB. My ex-boss (I worked for her ten years ago) sent me a message saying:
"So how are you? Anything new***? Nothing much new with me except that my granddaugher is growing up so fast."
***she does know of my infertility issues. Or better said: she knew and probably forgot or just did not care.
What can I reply to a message like this? We haven't been in touch for the last five years and all she can say are news regarding her granddaughter.
What can I reply? I am still infertile. Still childless. And of course, grandchildless for good.
***)/&%#! == (=lots of ugly words, they help to send away the anger).
I did what I do the best: I deleted the message. And I will just pretend that I never read it. So yes, a problem easily solved. My way.
I just hope that one day, when I am old and grey, my messages to younger excoworkers will be witty, inspiring and not hurting. They will include the news as:
- how good was my Italian cooking 3-week-course in Tuscany
- the best moments from walking the El Camino
- I will invite them to stop by and try my homegrown vegetables (my zucchinis will be amazing)
- how lovely it is to be the oldest student in a language school, learning for the first time Japanese / Arabic / Portugese / Spanish / Mandarine / ...
- hundreds of ideas to follow
I would say that even someone with children would prefer to hear about you and your text messages. Sounds like some amazing plans.
ReplyDeleteThank you Amanda. Hugs.
DeleteI always think people who ONLY talk about their children or grandchildren have very limited lives or imaginations. I think of my closest friends with children - one is loving her new job for a charity (and has other interesting things on the go), one is living overseas and so would talk about her latest discovery in Poland, and one (a grandmother too) is planning a trip to Peru, and has just had a contract extended. None of them would write such a limited email/text, updating their last five years like that.
ReplyDeleteI love your plans. I want to do the Italian cooking course with you! (You can translate, because I've forgotten my limited Italian already!) And your zucchinis will be amazing, I know! And I intend learning languages into my 70s/80s too.
dear Mali,
Deletegoing to Italy for a cooking class with you would be lovely!
I wouldn't be surprised if we made the wish come true one day...
lots of love,
Ouch to that text message. And I LOVE your plans as well. I agree with Mali about interesting parents/grandparents who can talk about other stuff as well rather than just about their children/grandchildren. I'm also thinking about learning another language in the future (maybe Japanese because I learnt it once in High School and we do want to go visit that country one day and it'll definitely help us a lot if I can also speak a little Japanese, if not more than a little he he he...). :-D
ReplyDelete