Life isn't always fair
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381774)
Rockingham, Australia
August 18, 2020 6:32am CST
When I was about ten, I had my tonsils removed. I was distraught about the thought of going into hospital and Mum tried to make me feel better by saying I’d be given ice-cream afterwards. This was a big deal in 1956. However, I didn’t get my ice-cream and I’m never forgotten that fact. I mentioned to someone that I needed to ‘man up’ and forget about it. I know it’s a very trivial matter.
A somewhat similar event happened to my mother. She was a very good shot with a rifle and accompanied her brother to a ‘guests’ day’ at the local gun club, probably around 1935. Although she won her class, somehow the trophy was awarded to another lady, who simply accepted the trophy despite knowing she had no right to it.
Even when Mum was 100, she remembered this event and it still rankled. We tried to make her feel better by reminding her that at least she didn’t have to polish the trophy for years and years.
But isn’t it interesting how the memory of unfair treatment lasts for a very long time?
Photo of my Mum and our son playing their version of Jenga.
19 people like this
21 responses
@LadyDuck (502189)
• Italy
18 Aug 20
There are things that we cannot stand and we cannot forgive and forget. When my parents moved to another apartment, I had to change my school. Where I was going, the teachers were Nuns. I was sent to another school run by nuns and mom reassured me that my teacher would have been a nun. I still can remember the first day of school when a young woman came inside and SHE was our teacher. I hated her from minute one and I never forgave my mother for her lie.
4 people like this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
18 Aug 20
those slights often go with us through life. They happen, and it makes us sad, depending on how old we are, we may not ever have a good framework to deal with them.
sorry about the ice cream,. I will happily ship you some, if that helps!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381774)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Aug 20
@DocAndersen Thanks very much. Your virtual ice-cream is gratefully accepted. 
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
19 Aug 20
@JudyEv well then please accept the ice cream wish attached...
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
19 Aug 20
When I was young, I always wanted Santa to bring me an Easy Bake oven. I never got it and I was so upset. I never forgot it until I had my daughter. When she was old enough, I got her one for Christmas. She and I played with it together. I was so happy and soon forget about not getting one when I was young.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381774)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Aug 20
What a lovely story. My mother always wanted to buy my brother a pedal car but could never afford it. She never really got over that either as my brother had very bad eyesight and had a bit of a tough life, eventually going blind. I think she grieved about it more than he did.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Aug 20
I would be scarred for life if I had gotten my tonsils out and then not received ice cream like I was promised. You have every right to be bitter about that until the end. haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Aug 20
@JudyEv I agree. That's why I love it here too!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222288)
• United States
18 Aug 20
Yes, I was mistreated at a couple of places that I worked and cheated out of a promotion. It still bothers me today. Great picture. Have a great day.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222288)
• United States
19 Aug 20
@JudyEv I'm glad it worked out for him.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
20 Aug 20
I had my tonsils out at nine. I got my ice cream. And your right, getting some is a big deal. I think getting deprived of something you earned (tonsils out and winning shot) is something you always remember and not fondly.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
22 Aug 20
@JudyEv Well, not all bad. Getting to not go to school for a week is like having a vacation 
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
18 Aug 20
what a great photo and memory to have. We must be the almost the same age. I too had my tonsils out in '56.
I was 8 yrs. but at least I got my ice cream and Jello too. Both a big deal to get back then.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
20 Aug 20
Mothers don't intend to deliver the goods at times,they just coax the kids by saying something.However they never have thought their breaking a promise would be etched in kids' mind.Your Mum's story is quite another thing .It was normal for her to feel hard done by that.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (36791)
• Philippines
18 Aug 20
I wonder too that the scar from the bad past remains -- I think we can stay away from it but telling yourselves, they made us better because of what happened in the past. And that was past -- what have not reached the today without it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381774)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Aug 20
True. All these experiences make us who we are today.
@JudyEv (381774)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Aug 20
I wouldn't get my tonsils out just for the ice-cream!!! 
It went out of fashion for a while but I think, for some, it becomes necessary.
It went out of fashion for a while but I think, for some, it becomes necessary.
@Butterfingers (66603)
• India
18 Aug 20
It's a fact that we remember the bad times or things more than the good ones
1 person likes this
@Butterfingers (66603)
• India
18 Aug 20
@JudyEv yes and you shouldn't forget that
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
18 Aug 20
There are things that do bother us sometimes that happened years ago.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
18 Aug 20
My daddy was a marvelous baker and made wedding cakes for my sister’s and for my brother’s two weddings. They were so pretty and scrumptious. Oddly he didn’t make mine. I actually didn’t even have a wedding cake. I know that he loved me, but it still bothers me. He did make me birthday cakes and such.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381774)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Aug 20
That would be hurtful. I'm sure he had a reason but, even so, it's a shame it happened.
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Aug 20
We do remember things that are not right.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
18 Aug 20
That's a great picture of your mom and son playing Jenga. It's funny how something can trigger a memory from a long time ago
1 person likes this
