Drank a cup o' reality at 12:54 p.m. on Monday, Jul. 05, 2004
Mary has been asking to read my diary. For about half a second I thought about it, and then I realized that if she did, I couldn’t write this entry:
4th of July had mellow beginnings. I hung out a bit with Dull Dan and his buddies. Dan has been calling recently and I have decided to quit ignoring him. As long as he understands that we won’t be making out or anything we will get along just fine. Dan is, admittedly, a really nice guy and very nice to me. It was good to kick it with him and catch up.
I came home as Gretchen’s parents were having a neighborhood party in their backyard, which adjoins my backyard. Their party had most of the grown-up neighbors sitting around eating appetizers and visiting. I contributed a plate of peanut butter cookies. Gretchen and I visited for a bit before Mrs. Spanish teacher showed up.
The fireworks show here in town is absolutely amazing. I love a good fireworks show, it feels like summer, childhood and wonderment. For a small town, the show is lengthy and quite excellent. The fireworks are launched from the City Beach; Gretchen’s parents and I live directly across the lake from the Beach. Apart from going out on the lake in a boat, our back yards are arguably the perfect viewing locations. To this end I had invited several co-workers to watch with me: Mary (her husband and step-brother too), Mrs. Spanish, Mr. Social Studies (and his family), Dull Dan (and a buddy), Shauna, Liz, and my cousin (with friend and child). We sat off from the neighbors.
The show did not disappoint and was even made better by the pontoon not too far away that was blaring music.
Afterwards, the neighbors dissipated and we were left in the yard with Gretchen’s parent’s fire pit burning. I offered to sit with it for a bit. I had no intention of adding wood, as I was tired and eager for folks to head off. It was fine. We were sitting there visiting and joking around re-hashing the show when the conversation turned. Mary and her stepbrother started joking about jumping off Gretchen’s parent’s dock and swimming out to the party pontoon. We were all laughing and joking and egging them on thinking that there was no way on God’s green earth that crazy Mary would actually do it. In the egging on we were also saying that there was no way that any of us was going in. But, we neglected to remember that Mary is a little off. And, so, she alone jumped into the dark water and headed off. We were flabbergasted, and more so, when her asshole husband jumped in after her.
Very quickly after Tony’s splash, Gretchen’s dad and boyfriend arrived on the scene. And I got the “Spunky you screwed up” look. So, things were quickly shut down. The thing is, that I completely understand Gretchen’s Dad’s point. It was really really stupid and it put him in a predicament. I apologized as I carried stuff up to the driveway and I hope that he really believed how sincere I was. Because I am sorry. It was totally un-necessary and the evening could have been just fine… we would have watched the fire burn out and everyone would have headed off. But, now I am in trouble with some of our closest family friends because Mary is crazy. And if any of you think that you could control Mary I invite you to have a go at it.
And I accept responsibility for my friends, but at the same time we are adults so my friends need to accept responsibility for themselves. In the end, once we were upstairs in my house what really pissed me off was that Mary didn’t seem to understand that she had put me in a bad position or that I had every right to be pissed at her.
I need a little space from Mary… I’m just hoping that she doesn’t show up unannounced again today (a habit that she has gotten into in recent days). As I’m typing this, my phone is ringing… it is Mary… I’m not answering. Now my cell phone is ringing… I’m still not answering.
Perhaps Gretchen mentioned to her parents that Mary is nuts?
Anyhow, Happy 4th of July.
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Old Married Lady
And now, I'm old enough for that. - Thursday, Mar. 10, 2005
I don't get it! - Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005
Stardom - Saturday, Feb. 12, 2005
many neuroses - Saturday, Feb. 05, 2005
the week of missed connections - Sunday, Jan. 30, 2005
Miss Spunky is:
a 25 year old English teacher currently on an extended adventure in Minnesota, searching for a good man with a big... truck!
I love:
My students, excessive amounts of coffee, Baja Fresh and a good hockey game.
I dislike:
Ignorance, mosquitoes, and people who write in IM and/or grammar so poor that it is clear that they are lazy. IM is LAZY, LAZY do you hear me???