Wondering...

What is it about people that makes them think it is okay to attack someone in an email? I have had a rough week on email and I am wounded to my soul. Details are not important, just that there was an event where people were recognized for things that they do and some folks were offended that they didn't get recognized. They took this opportunity to attack me personally and proceed to tell me how wrong I was, how rude I am, how worthless I am, and what a failure I am. They also proceeded to tell me that the organization that I am a part of was also wrong, rude, worthless, and a failure. Bubba wanted to author the response himself and tell this person exactly where to take her attack. He is always my biggest fan and supporter and he did not like this attack on my character one bit. He wanted to know where this person's spouse worked, and for whom. I told him that I have never worn or used his rank, ever and I wasn't going to start now. He proved that he was the right man for me when he said, "You've got to start sometime!" Yes, 12 months before retirement might be as good a time as any to start wearing his rank, but....

I don't know how to respond to this person. I admit that I am hurt by her tirade. I am not the type of person who can let something like this roll off her back. My back is velcro for stuff like this. I will now proceed to carrying it around on my back for, like, the rest of my life. I don't carry a grudge, I carry the pain. I know that these things are supposed to make me stronger but, doggoneit, I believe I am strong enough now, stop the madness!

I will get through this... I always do. But, it has changed me and I hate that. I will not be as naive, not as innocent, not as trusting. And I may never volunteer for a leadership position again. And that is the greatest tragedy of this whole situation.

Where's Wheezer?

Have you ever gone on a vacation where you considered not ever coming back? We just returned from just such a vacation and now Bubba is discussing opening his own dive shop when he retires and I am wondering if there is a market for interior design in the Canary Islands. Sometimes things just fall into place for the perfect vacation to take place: great location, great friends, kids just the right age that they are willing to try new things and independent enough to entertain themselves, work and home stress to the breaking point, and weather that is to die for. Our 8 days in Lanzarote were nothing short of perfect. The worst part of this perfect vacation was coming home to 40 degree rainy weather and the impending move staring us in the face. Yikes! I have to start getting organized!

Just askin'

How do you respond when your 10 year-old remarks "I guess common sense is not so common anymore"?

Things I won't miss about Germany, part 1

• Rain, rain and more rain, and then some cloudy, cold summer days thrown in for good measure – I can honestly say that I will never want to live in Seattle after living here! Sorry , Seattle-ites
• Flieger Strasse which has needed to be repaved since we got here – my Explorer has more rattles than I can count now thanks to that street.
• The EURO rate – all I have to say about that is YIKES!
• Heavy German food that takes a week to digest and makes you feel like one of those rotund members of an OOMPAH band!
• The long flight home…only one more of those to go!