Petty Seaweed

Petty:  Narrow-minded; small-minded.

The big take-away for me regarding the last trip to The Old City - in my opinion, because really, who's opinion would it be if not mine? - was along the lines of Live and Let Live. The first time I saw this slogan it appeared to be a stupid slogan that applied to lesser people than me. Now I think it's a pretty good slogan.  It keeps my nose out of your business.  I don't know exactly where my nose is supposed to go but it's definitely not in your business.

I called my dear father - back on the Vodka Train, according to my sister, despite her refusal to buy him any more Vodka, prompting me to share my deeply-held belief that I could be dropped from an airplane, in the middle of the night, on Sunday, in a dry county in a dry state, without my wallet or any identification, and I'd have drugs and alcohol within two hours - a couple of times in the last week.  No answer, even though he never goes anywhere and has caller ID and an answering machine, and no return of the calls.  

"I think I'm done with my father," I told SuperK, without any emotion at all.

She nodded.  "OK," her mouth said.  "It's about fucking time," was implied.

I don't mean I'll never contact him again rather that he really doesn't want to talk to me right now so it's enough with the calls already.  Leave the old guy alone.

Then, I get a text from an Old City friend - one of those guys that I love dearly who never, ever makes the slightest effort to stay in touch.  I've droned on ad infinitum about how irritating this is before finally, finally deciding that it would be better to back off the expectations and slot him into the category of people I love dearly but will lose touch with. The text regrettably, was to let me know of some good news he got regarding a family member and to let me know what kind of new car he bought.  He promised to follow up with a phone call over the weekend.  

"I don't think I'm going to take that call," I told SuperK.

She nodded.  "OK," her mouth said.  "You're really dim sometimes," was implied.

I feel a little petty here.  I'm happy the health scare is over and if I was still in The Old City I would have spent a couple of days riding around with him to the car dealerships.  I LOVE new cars.  However, I lost my mother and I went to Scandinavia for a couple of months and I heard nothing.  So, frankly, in my book, stay engaged or stay silent.  When I thought I might hear from him my feelings were hurt - when I don't expect to hear from him my feelings are nice and robust.  I don't want to take a call where he talks about himself for a half an hour.

I'm really trying here.  I really am.