A Not-So Dear Friend Called Me

@cynthiann (18602)
Jamaica
February 20, 2009 8:11am CST
and suggested we meet for tea after work. I reluctantly agreed to do so - more out of guilt that anything else. You see, she has really grated my nerves over the years as her children were always so perfect and mine - well - they were just children. Her children never picked their noses or wet themselves, or had a tantrum in public when small. Honest - really perfect -especially when compared to mine. And she always compared her children to mine. Mine are now grown but, to her, her boys achieved more than my children. But she sounded lonely and so I agreed. We chatted at the tea room and I then made a movement to leave but she asked me to accompany her to her son's apartment. He lived near by and she had promised to water his house plants. So we went to this up-scale apt. on the sea that was really over the top, but whatever, I admired everything that she pointed out to me and was really well behaved. We were about to leave when she remembered that she hadn't watered the special plants in the guest's bathroom and so I followed her into the bathroom to assist. To my horror, there were the biggest ganja (marijuana) plants that I have ever seen. I went into shock. I then heard her asking me if I thought that they were perhaps organic tomato plants as he was 'in' to natural herbs and plants she said. I murmured something non commital whilst trying to control the laughter that was bubbling up inside of me. I thought to tell her but that would have been unkind. Why burst her lonely bubble, I thought?. So we said out goodbyes and I went home to my imperfect family, and hugged my imperfect son and cuddled my imperfect grands and gave thanks that my imperfect family gives me more love than she has ever received. Has you ever had a strange twist of fate like I experienced?
12 people like this
18 responses
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Wow! You are a better person than I am! I probably would have told her right then and there! Good for you! She thinks her children are perfect and probably would not have believed it to be true anyway. Funny story!
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
20 Feb 09
It makes me wonder about his vacation plans to Turkey of all places! Sorry I haven't been around here much. I have discovered Facebook and have been having a ball over there! Do you have an account. I'm not sure how international the site may be. I've been connecting with people that I havent' seen in years! Good to chat with you again! How are things on the lot? Are you getting ready to take your trip to see your daughter?
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 Feb 09
She no longer has many friends and is not close to her children. She was pathetically grateful that her son needed her to water the plants as he was on vacation. On reflection, you are so right - she would not have believed that they were ganja plants at all. nSoemnthnigs are better left unsaid. I'm just glad to have got out wothout the police raiding the place or something! Thanks for responding
2 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 Feb 09
You are right again. Turkey probably figures big somehow in his plans. I did notice that you were missing but thought that you were [perhaps just taking off a few days. I've heard of face book abut know nothing about it. My daughter told me to join but it is a time factor for me - I really do not have the time to do Mylot and face book. I am glad that you are meeting up with old friends. That is so good. Yes, am leaving for NC next Thursday. I really need to get off the Island for a few days and am so looking forward to going there!
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
20 Feb 09
i can't stand people like that to start with. u might have saved the boy from some jail time if uhad told her. he'll get caught sooner or later.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
21 Feb 09
he'll get caught sooner or later & she will be in shock. i feel sorry for her when are eyes are opened.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 Feb 09
Maybe she"ll take someone else next to water the plants as he is away for 3 weeks. No, I couldn't tell her. I just could not do it. Thanks for responding
2 people like this
@kaka135 (14921)
• Malaysia
20 Feb 09
Hi cynthiann, Well, I always think that there is no perfect person, or why should we look for perfect person? As I always want to just be myself, and I do not like my parents to compare me with other children, I hope I do the same to my kids too. I'll love them by just being themselves -- being themselves make them lovable enough. I've seen some parents wanting their children to be really good, but when the children grew up, they do not really have good relationship with the parents. I think you have good relationship with your kids, right? That's more than enough, isn't it? ^_^
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 Feb 09
I have a great relationshipo with my kids - unfortunately this friend doesn't - and this is so sad. Thaks for responding. How is the baby today? Kicking?
1 person likes this
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
20 Feb 09
[i]Hi cyn, hahahaha..that is very funny! I will be doing same thing if I was with that lady, I will just smile in secret and pity her.... Thanks for sharing this...LOL! I was laughing while reading..poor lady![/i]
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 Feb 09
I do feel sorry for her as her perfect children do not bother so much with her now that she is old like me. Whilst my imperfect ones and I have so much fun together Thaks for responding
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
20 Feb 09
What a cool story,cynthiann! Yes, I've seen those little twists of fate many times. Enough to know that those who go around pointing out all their perfections are the ones that just working really really hard to cover up all that isn't so perfect. They seem to miss out on a lot of closeness with the people around them because they never let down their guard and get real. See, you have a closer bond with your kids by the sounds of it....you would have known if your kids were growing weed probably. At least you know what it is. She sounds clueless. Sounds like my mother when we were kids. She was always so worried about what "the neighbors would think". We had to dress and present ourselves in a certain way so that people would think we were this perfect little family. We weren't of course. We were just who we were. All the while my brother was growing weed in my mom's house plants and we were all doing things. I don't think we had the neighbors fooled a bit and I doubt they really cared anyway.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 Feb 09
It's sad really - you are right and I thank you for responding so fully. My mother also did not let down her guard until she was really, really old - like nearly 90. I do have a close bond with my kids and grand kids. Her life is quite empty and this is sad. I will be kinder to her in the future.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Hey cynthiann! I have to tell you that I never know what to expect anymore when I read your posts! I used to think that you were a very straight forward serious person but now I just wonder what's coming next! Again, I'm laughing so hard at your story! That was so funny! This woman had no idea what her son had her watering! And she was so proud to take you on a tour of his place which he probably was paying for with the help of that huge plant! I must say cynthiann you always brighten up my days now with your discussions! You are one very funny woman! You really should be a writer! I so look forward to seeing what will be coming up next! I am so happy to have you as a friend for so many reasons! Thanks again for another funny!
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 Feb 09
You are beginning to sound just like my husband! He always said that he never knew what next I would get into. No, I am a humorous person (so I'm told) it's just that I cannot take the stress dished out by my boss. I'm glad that you found it funny. My son and I laughed so hard last night when I told what had happened. It is just that life leads into bizarre situations. I don't know why. Thanks for responding
1 person likes this
@loved1 (5328)
• United States
17 Mar 09
That story is priceless. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to keep from bursting out in laughter! It really makes you wonder about how many other things her children have "pulled the wool over her eyes" about. Those children of hers are obviously not as perfect as she thought. You were right to not tell her about the plants. She probably would have gotten angry at you for suggesting her perfect son would go anywhere near that kind of plant. lol
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
17 Mar 09
why pour rain on her parade? she would not have believed me at all. Hey, are you reading my old posts?
@rusty2rusty (6751)
• Defiance, Ohio
21 Feb 09
How in the world did you control your laughter? I know I woudn't of been able to. I have a friend who acts teh same way. But the funny thing is, I knwo better because I have babysat her kids. She just enjoys hearing how other people lives suck. I have since moved. I have also got alot of drama from my life. That friend no longer comes around. It is truely funny to me. because it shows what she was all about to begin with.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
22 Feb 09
It was very hard not to laugh in front of her. But I could see how lonely she now is and her children just use her. Trust me, it was very funny and unexpected too. Many thanks for responding
@moondancer (7433)
• United States
21 Feb 09
It's sad that she lives in such a small world and that she has blinders on. I like you would have left her to it. To burst that bubble of hers would probably call to her the end of her exsistance as she knows it. That was very kind of you to do that as she has thrown things up to you so badly over the years. it shows that you are the bigger person for it.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
21 Feb 09
Oh you are so kind =. It would not have been kind to have burst her bubble. She is a lonely person. In fact, I called her last night and said how much I enjoyed us having tea together. she was pathetically grateful. Blessings
@dvmurphy (326)
• United States
22 Feb 09
When my son was little I had the principal of his school tell me that he was retarded, would never learn how to read and would be dependent on me most of his life. Turns out my son was extremely hard of hearing, dsylexic and he was born with a dislocated hip from a breech birth. He grew up to graduate from the University of Miami Of Fine Arts with a bachelor degree and teaches English as a second language in Chins. You can bet that the principal was invited to his graduation.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
22 Feb 09
I have a son who is dyslexic too and although I was a teacher myself had to battle the system for him. Congratulations on your son achieving so much. Some teachers do not appreciate the harm they do to students. When I stopped enjoying teaching - I got out of the classroom as i knew that I would not be effective. It must have given you great satisfaction to invite the same principal to see him graduate. Thaks for responding
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
20 Feb 09
LOL! Now you have made my day! Karma will get you every time! Here she was trying to rub things into your face and that great big plant is probably how he affords to pay for that swanky apartment! I don't think I could have held it in! Perhaps you should call the cops and let them know!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 Feb 09
I am so happy to have made your day! That is kind of you to say so. I did find it hard not to laugh. No, I did not want payback at all. I felt sad for her as hse is lonely - whilst I am not - even though we both are widows.
@rebelann (110766)
• El Paso, Texas
28 May 22
Hey Shelley, when you coming back to Mylot? I miss you
@Lore2009 (7378)
• United States
20 Feb 09
What a funny little story. It made me laugh! Thanks.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
21 Feb 09
I am glad that you found it funny and thank you for responding
@crigal (105)
• United States
21 Feb 09
I probably would have told her...so that way her kids would be the "imperfect" kids while yours came out for the better! Sometimes it's better for the kids to be kids while they grow up. That way they can learn the hard things in life while being kids....so when they get older, they'll be wiser and hopefully make good decisions.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
21 Feb 09
No, I know that she is so lonely and misses her children, that I just could not tell her. It doesn't hurt children at all to face some problems whilst growing up as then they learn how to solve these problems and the real world is not such a shock to the, This is in my experience. Thank you for responding
@deejean06 (1952)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Only once - I had a friend who was in her eyes prettier and better than me. While I was mostly alone, she always had a string of boyfriends. She quickly got married, had a son, and moved into a very nice area. I bought a house in a good area - just not that upscale - and by myself. A couple of years ago I heard through a mutual friend that she was asking for me. So I bit the bullet and called her. She had divorced her husband and was living with her parents again. I congratulated her on her son and sympathized with her over the loss of her marriage. But like you, I kept all negative comments to myself. Always be the better person! It works out in the end and your story proves just that.
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Good story , deejean and good philosophy too!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 Feb 09
Yes, I do not believe in an eye for an eye etc. It ios better to keep the comments to oneself and say nothing negative. who knows? She may change and even now is regretting that she thought herself better than you. Many thanks for sharing
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
23 Feb 09
yes I have actually, and to think that beautiful house this boy had was from illegal means they joke is on her.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Usually when someone brags too much this does happen. I can't thing of specifically a story to share but loved yours! LOL
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
21 Feb 09
She has been bragging since our boys were small. Glad if it made you laugh. Thanks for responding
@22angel22 (450)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Haha wow. Thats so funny.. I wonder if her perfect son, gets his perfect money, by selling his illegal plant?
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 Feb 09
This is a thought. I do not know! Thanks for responding
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Oh my that is too funny! I know how you feel in a way. Nothing that serious but I had an experience similar to this when my oldest son was taking his drivers license test. I had the same type of person that all through school her son was "better" at everything. I just always thought she was pitifully insecure but anyway it just so happend that we took the boys to get their license at the same time. My son passed an hers didn''t!LOL I know it is childish and I offered my sympathy to the boy and all but there was just this feeling of "ha ha" going on inside of me that I couldn't control. Her son did get his the next try but there was some sense of pride for me after that episode! LOL
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 Feb 09
That's exactly how I felt. Oh how the mighty have fallen! Many thanks for responding.