16 February 2011

Late people....(soapbox time!)

have no reason to live....

substitute "late people"
for
"Short people"....

Late people got no reason
Late people got no reason
Late people got no reason
To live

They got late little hands
Late little eyes
They walk around
Tellin' great big late lies
They got late noses
And tiny late teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty late feet

Well, I don't want no late people
Don't want no late people
Don't want no late people
`Round here




With apologies to Mr. Randy Newman...
I have been hummin' his tune all morning long...
only I have bastardized it, by the substitution...

I am attempting to deal with some feelings of anger....

resentment.....

offense taken...

oh forget that, I'm pisssed...

and
 there is absolutely nothing I can do,
but let it go....


But,
while I am good and worked up,
let me ask you what you think.....

Does it bother you when people are perpetually late?
Business associates,
friends,
relatives,
acquaintances,
strangers,
people that you are doing a favor for?

What is that all about, Alfie?
Lack of manners?
ignorance?
disrespect?
control?
attitude?
bad habits?
what?

My parents are exceptional people,
they taught me to 
"Be on time"
period....
anything less was a 
complete disregard for the other person's feelings.

Of course,
one cannot always be on time....
things happen...
That is why we have phones,
(and manners)
so that when we are faced with being late,
we pick up the phone,
call the person we are meeting,
and start with an apology,
and then something of an explanation...
unless, of course this is the regular state of events for us
in which case,
 our friends will have known not to expect us,
our employers will have fired us,
our customers will have taken their business elsewhere.
You get the picture.

Now,
lest you think me a 
"hard-ass" when it comes to time tables....
Let me tell you,
I struggle, really struggle to keep my appointments.
I mess up....
I forget to update my calendar...
I have had a watch actually quit working...
I have had car trouble...
I have lost my cell phone....
and
I have (occasionally) lost track of what day it was...
I am not perfect.
No siree.....not me....
but, I understand the importance of being on time,
and make my apologies asap.

I once worked for an airline,
where, if you were late more than say
ONCE!
You were fired.
Period.
No exceptions....
AND
 wait for it..
this was before anyone,
(including Bill Gates)
had a cell phone.
Really, there was a time.
(the 1980's)
So, if something extraordinary happened to you,
you had better get yourself to a land line quickly,
so that you could let then know.
You cannot imagine what it costs an airline to cancel a 
flight because a crew member doesn't show.
(lots!)

But honestly,
do you have a person in your life that you can
count on to be late?
all the time?
Almost like an attention getting device,
 they seem to like the drama that 
goes along with arriving with a "big apology" 
and a creative 
reason for the delay?
OR 
do they simply show up with no explanation at all?
Acting as though you owed them the wait?
OR
do you get the impression that they use this 
"device" as a way to put you off your guard,
put you on the defensive,
make you so freaking angry that you will jump 
at any chance for a pleasant interaction?

Have you ever confronted this person?

What was the result?
Did they change?
Is that too much to expect?
Do you alter the time you tell them to meet you so 
that you don't have to wait so long?

How do you cope with this?

Any and all suggestions will be taken into consideration....

In the meantime,
the view from up here on the soapbox is 
satisfying....
smiles.





6 comments:

  1. I had a friend - she was my best friend. She was always late. Always. I got used to it but it's one of the many reasons she is not my best friend anymore. I decided I didn't have to merely be used to it.
    Being late is inconsiderate and rude. And yesterday, I got very angry with a parent who never picked up her two children from school. And didn't answer her cell phone until I kept calling it. She came to my desk today and I was still mad at her.

    Cannot stand people who have such disregard for time. (although some of them really are fun to hang around).

    ReplyDelete
  2. CG-thank goodness! you are one of the most lovely people I know, and if you feel this way....well, I a ok.
    and
    Jazzy E-thank you....smiles....
    Ellen

    ReplyDelete
  3. I agree. If you say you will be there at blank O'clock please show up or call way ahead to cancel. I was a scout leader for years and hubs coached multiple sports. Many parents seemed to feel we were the built in baby sitter and would show up to collect their children long after practice or the meeting had ended. Not only were we taking our personal time to volunteer, apparently we didn't have anything better to do than watch their children until they showed up. These people never apologized, just knew we would wait while they took their time. We had no choice really. We obviously wouldn't leave our post when young children were involved. They were so busy they couldn't take the time to volunteer and somehow instead of being ashamed they were arrogant about how important THEIR TIME was. I am getting steamed just recalling the absolute selfishness of some people.
    Feel free to vent, you deserve it!
    Have a lovely weekend, Pam

    ReplyDelete
  4. I feel your pain....I think being perpetually late is a narcissistic trait and a way to control others. Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Pam-Isn't it great when the children grow up and you no longer are at the mercy of such folk?....geez....
    Anne-BINGO!
    smiles....

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love this post, so sweet.
    http://chiccastyle.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment...I am grateful....smiles.