The diarists here that I admire most are mostly those who tend to their posts. They take care to read and often reply to the comments as they roll in. They recommend all reasonable responses to their piece. I like those writers. This is what makes Daily Kos a community, with little nooks and crannies to fit the many interests that speak to the differing users. That’s why I’ve spent just over twelve years hanging out here through 2 grueling primaries.
Then there are others, the “Drive By” diarists. This is fine; there certainly isn’t any rule mandating any level of participation. I read those pieces too. But when I see an author whose comments nearly equal their tip jars, I often start to pass on their stuff…
…because I feel sort of been stood up.
These days, I’m a guy that can’t say “NO”, and I’m pretty good at follow through, and I worry about fulfilling obligations. This trait was probably drummed into my head when I worked as a graphic artist in an advertising studio. Deadlines are always part of the job and not to be blown off...even if the clients skip the meeting.
I can’t say I was always like that. In fact as a kid I could be unreliable, especially when it came to letter writing.
I lost a few friends, guys and girls. I knew that I should be writing back to answer a letter I received, and I knew that I would feel guilty if I didn’t. Most of the time I didn’t…and of course...I felt guilty. It was self-fulfilling cycle.
Here is a case in point for which I have retained physical evidence…
...A couple of summers in high school I went to a month-long arts and music camp. It was on a college campus and we stayed in one of the dorms, ate in the cafeteria and attended classes throughout the day in a routine that prepared us for college life.
I met a girl the first year, (or rather she made it a point of meeting me. I was shy. Fortune has smiled on me at times). I was 16, and she was 14. She was a bright-eyed beauty with a head of dark curly hair…and played the balalaika! She lived in town, as her father was an instructor at the college. I met her in ceramics class, she made mushrooms with holes for joss sticks as I recall. I was trying to throw at least one pot that had a wall thickness of less than a half-inch. We hung out. It was a great month.
I returned home and back into my regular life and friendships. I got letters from her…and since I was a very poor correspondent, I didn’t keep up. Maybe I just was an inarticulate teen (I was). Maybe it was because she lived 400 miles away.
Whatever the reason, I deserved the rebuke I received for dropping the chain...
...I kept that letter. I came across it a short time ago as I was winnowing down some of my old junk (down to 2 banker boxes representing K through 12). Over 45 years later, I still feel guilty. She was a sweet girl...but thoroughly pissed when I decided to return to the camp the next year and ran into her…and while hadn’t meant to hurt her, I had been a bonehead, and I blew it!
I stood her up.
That’s what I’m going to do today…leave you stood up. I’ve got to roll out early shortly. I’ll miss hanging out.
Ever been stood up?
RSVPS
1. Dartagnan
2. navajo
3. side pocket
4. Mrs. side pocket
5. Glen the Plumber
6. TLO
7. kimoconnor
8.
MAYBEES :
Meteor Blades
Mrs. Dartagnan
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RSVPS
1. Thinking Fella
2. Ojibwa
3. state of confusion
4. jakedog42
5. MotherMags
6. MTmofo
7. woolibaar
8. Mhosz
9. Mrs. Mhosz
10. Maudlin
11. Mr. Maudlin
12. dsb
13. Lee Montana
MAYBEES :
Boise Blue
Mrs. Boise Blue
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RSVPS
1. Bill in Portland Maine
2. Common Sense Mainer
3. navajo
4. markm667
5. vicki
6. vicki’s recruit 1
7. vicki’s recruit 2
8. smileycreek
9. paradise50
10. Ed Tracey
11. side pocket
12. Mrs. side pocket
13. Richard Cranium
14. YellowDogInGA
15. DebtorsPrison
16. brillig
17. mik
18. thatkid
19. K2
20. LuLu
21. moodyinsavannah
22. norm
23. Egberto Willies
24. Chris Reeves
25. Susan Grigsby
26. spedwybabs
27. Dee Austin
28. Pam Miles
29. Corrie Wikoff
30. Cindi Branham
31. Susan Higgins
32. jlms qkw
33. Larisa Thomason
34. evcoren
35. shermanesq
36. doggie269
37. jpup
38. BruinKid
39. Steve Stearns
40. loggersbrat
41. Walter Einenkel
42. Susan Gardner
43. Faith Gardner
44. Meteor Blades
45. nancyjones
46. edgery
47. SanDiegoDem
48. Will Rockafellow
49. Laura Clawson +high chair
50. Joan McCarter
51. Wagatwe Wanjuki
52. Drew Linzer
53. Mara Schechter
54. Michael Langenmayr
55. Kelly Macias
56. Gabe Ortiz
57. Monique Teal
58. scyellowdogdem
59. Kimm Lett
60. Rachel Gutauskas
61. Jeff Singer
62. Carolyn Fiddler
63. Rachel Colyer
64. Shayera Tangri
65. Irna Landrum
66. Carissa Miller
67. Jennifer Hayden
68. Susan Smith
69. JustOneMoreDad
70. Mrs. JustOneMoreDad
71. JustOneMoreDad’s kid
72. BeninSC
73. KathyinSC
74. annrose
75. shanikka
76. DAH
77. susans
78. gmats
79. 714day
80. Sandy on Signal
81. SouthDem
82. Bouapha Toommaly
83.
MAYBEES :
momomia
Jon Sitzman
MsSpentYouth
scyellowdogdem’s nephew Matt
jotter
aha aha
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RSVPS
1. randallt
2. Joieau
3. Gordon20024
4. Otteray Scribe
5. Burns Lass
6.
MAYBEES :
eeff
Zen Trainer
Tex Dem
VeloVixen
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