Saturday, August 19, 2006
My mom saw this article on the newspaper about being around negative people. Included was this funny story:
The Negative Hairdresser
A woman was at her hairdresser's getting her hair styled for a trip to Rome with her boyfriend. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded, "Rome? Why would anyone want to go there? It's crowded and dirty and full of Italians. You're crazy to go to Rome. So, how are you getting there?"
"We're taking the Continental," was the reply. "We got a great rate!"
"The Continental?" exclaimed the hairdresser. "That's a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they're always late. So, where are you staying in Rome?"
"We'll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome's Tiber River called Teste."
"Don't go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks its gonna be something special and exclusive, but it's really a dump, the worst hotel in the city! The rooms are small, the service is surly and they're overpriced. So, whatcha doing when you get there?"
"We're going to go to see the Vatican and we hope to see the Pope."
"That's rich," laughed the hairdresser. "You and a million other people trying to see him. He'll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You're going to need it."
A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo. The hairdresser asked her about her trip to Rome.
"It was wonderful," explained the woman, "not only were we on time in one of Continental's brand new planes, but it was overbooked and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot. And the hotel was great! They'd just finished a $5 million remodeling job and now it's a jewel, the finest hotel in the city.They, too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us their owner's suite at no extra charge!"
"Well," muttered the hairdresser, "That's all well and good, but I know you didn't get to see the Pope."
"Actually, we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder and explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors and if I'd be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope came into the room. I knelt down and he spoke a few words, laid his hand on my head and blessed me."
"Oh, really! What'd he say?"
He said, "Bless you, my child. But, where'd you get the awful hairdo?"
*****
I hate being around people I don't really like, although there are some cases that I really have no choice. Like being around this guy I've christened "Mr. Conceited". He's incredibly amazing at this thing he does, but the guy just can't stop rubbing it in hard enough. *rolls eyes* And, he makes it a point that everybody knows about his Promil-kid-worthy genius on playing. *throws up* I rarely permit myself to remain even one minute in his presence.
I guess even if you don't like being around someone, you still have to be nice, even if it's the plastic kind of nice. Play along. Even if it's not really a good thing, sometimes you really have to fake it till you make it. I mean, what if it's with your boss? Even if you absolutely detest him, you can't just say "I hate your stinking guts" in his face, unless you want to find yourself unemployed.
written at 5:15 AM
