Yes, I advise myself to stay calm. To breathe. To relax. But none of these are helpful when my real problem is feeling ignored and helpless.
In fact, for the first time since the switch to daylight savings, I got up early to join my coffee group to find real people to complain to.
My landline has been nonworking, nonviable, dead, for the last ten days. I called on Monday, ten days ago, and thought help was coming. Nothing happened. I called again on Thursday.
This time I got a ticket number and a date—yesterday. So I stayed home all day, keeping my cell phone near, in case. Again nothing. Did I want to go through the same old computer system, repeating the same old problem, finding out there’s no record of my previous calls, and with NO HUMAN TO SPEAK TO?
No! I felt ignored.
Certainly I didn’t want to talk to that same old computer again! So I had my tea with the coffee group and came home to walk Sophie. Since I was calmer, and had a little time before an appointment, I tried that “help” line one more time.
This time the machine actually acknowledged that there was a damaged cable, and that it was being repaired. FINALLY!
Mea Culpa
We’re all guilty of tuning out the other guy sometimes.
I don’t mean to ignore Sophie, but it does happen. She has to be lifted up and down from furniture, and her bones love soft spots. Last night, she was so quiet, I forgot she was on the sofa, and left the room. I began hearing soft complaints and went to her rescue.
Even more than being comfortable, Sophie wants to be near me. No complaints there—except when I trip over her in the bathroom or hallway. That’s why each morning, I leave her sleeping on the bed and try to finish dressing before lifting her down. But on one unfortunate morning, I must have taken too long. She took matters into her own paws.
I heard her slide off the bed. She joined me, seeming okay, but several days later she exhibited clear signs of being miserably in pain. I’m sure that impact was the cause of an arthritis flare up. After two days on pain killers, she was acting like the puppy she isn’t.
Nationally
Feeling ignored really is a biggie. It’s exactly why voters chose the candidate who sounded like he cared about their problems. I wonder when they’ll decide they’re the ones being ignored.
Pay attention, politicians. Ignore at your peril.
Kate Harrington 