I’m Tired, Boss (But I Won’t Back Down)

I’m feeling like John Coffey from The Green Mile movie. It’s almost the middle of April – it’s been raining for two days; we had snow earlier this week.  My arthritis is in full swing – my knees, my ankle, my neck, shoulder and even my fingers are rebelling.  My esophagus wanted to join the party.  Yay, me! I’m so lucky!

I’m tired, Boss.

I’m tired listening to both sides of the political parties bicker and fight, in the newspapers, the television and radio, and on social media.  Some people on Facebook have been posting, “And if you don’t like what I am saying, UNFRIEND me!!!”  Yep, they used lots of exclamation points.  These were from both Republican and Democrat voters.  I thought about it for a couple of hours and then, I did unfriend them.  I go to Facebook to see cute photo of my friends and family’s kids, pets, flowers, and birds.  I like to catch up on the gossip.  I don’t want to read any political bs.

I’m tired of appliances breaking down (I’m looking at you four-year old deep freezer who bite the dust and the brand new replacement we purchased arrived broken as well) and vehicles making weird noises and praying that the auto repair won’t be expensive. We all know that’s not gonna happen…

I’m tired, Boss.  I’m tired of deadlines and dealing with snippy emails and people who are not grateful.  I’m tired of being told to treat people one way, but I am supposed to just roll over and let them walk all over me in return. Spoiler alert, I jump right back up when I am kicked down. My Boss won’t let me send nasty reply emails, but I still write them and save them on my hard drive, and I will hold a grudge against that person for the rest of my life.  I don’t back down…

One of our readers, David, called the office yesterday.  I had a wonderful conversation with him.  He told me, “Your column in the first thing I turn to when I get my new copy of Movin’ Out. Sometimes you get a little crazy.” And ya know, it’s true.  I do get a little crazy-eyed when I am riled up.

I am not going to lie; David’s comments stroked my ego.  I didn’t tell him sometimes I get very tired of writing this column.  I’ve been writing it for 36 years and I am a very boring, old Grandma now.  I just got excited because I scored a 30% off coupon on some shapewear for my son’s upcoming wedding. I got totally carried away today and had a can of Coke AND a frozen Coke from McDonald’s!  I didn’t get dressed at all last Saturday.

Life kind of sucks for all of us right now. But I’ve realized that as tired as I am, I am also strong in spirit.  I won’t back down.  I’m going to complain, I’m going to whine.  I’m going to write a bunch of strongly worded emails in rebuttal, show them to my spouse and then sigh dramatically and put them in a folder on my computer’s desktop. And I’m going to finish building this newspaper and be grateful for readers like David, and our advertisers and everyone who thanks us for giving them free show coverage and news releases.  And I’m gonna dig out the Easter candy a week early.

Unlike John Coffey, I’m not ready to walk that Green Mile just yet. I’m tired, but not as lonely as a sparrow in the rain.