Thursday, February 12, 2004
Imperfection Week, Volume 3: I HAVE REGRETS
1.) Way back in my formative years, I got into a fight with a kid who lived across the street from me. He was a bit of a nancy-boy, always taking charge, thinking he was better than everyone, having to have his way. One day -- and I don't remember the specifics -- I'd simply had it. A bit of a row broke out, and I slugged him one hard in the face. Not two minutes later, my dad -- who took the bus in those days -- came walking up the street from the bus stop. He greeted the neighbor boy in his usual friendly neighborly way. And this kid, who was really upset (not really crying, but trying to hold it in) acted normally, as if my dad's son hadn't just belted him. I know at the time I was really pissed, and felt like I needed to unload . . . but I've regretted it ever since. To this day I wish I could apologize to that kid.
2.) One day, while working at my high school job as a pizza cook, I complained about something the lunchtime cook hadn't prepped. The lunch cook was a fun-loving, if incredibly lazy, guy. My manager at the time told me I could sit there and complain about it, or I could call and complain to the lunch cook. Taking this bait, I called, complained, and regretted it. Life's just too short to quibble over sliced green peppers.
3.) Just because you get married doesn't mean you can't still regret not asking out the cute girl in your aesthetics class who had a boyfriend that openly slept with her and another woman. Salt was rubbed in the wound when I later learned 3rd-hand she was sort of interested . . . but moving to Pittsburgh to live with the sleazy boyfriend and the other woman.
4.) I've had many friendships fall out. Even in the instances in which I feel no guilt . . . there's that nagging regret that wonders if I could have done something else to salvage it.
5.) Easter Sunday of 2000, I was driving back to school at night. Just outside of Mauston I hit, and probably killed, a wolf. It probably wasn't my fault. But man . . . a wolf. It's one thing to roll over a squirrel or bunny. But a wolf . . . that's terrible.
2.) One day, while working at my high school job as a pizza cook, I complained about something the lunchtime cook hadn't prepped. The lunch cook was a fun-loving, if incredibly lazy, guy. My manager at the time told me I could sit there and complain about it, or I could call and complain to the lunch cook. Taking this bait, I called, complained, and regretted it. Life's just too short to quibble over sliced green peppers.
3.) Just because you get married doesn't mean you can't still regret not asking out the cute girl in your aesthetics class who had a boyfriend that openly slept with her and another woman. Salt was rubbed in the wound when I later learned 3rd-hand she was sort of interested . . . but moving to Pittsburgh to live with the sleazy boyfriend and the other woman.
4.) I've had many friendships fall out. Even in the instances in which I feel no guilt . . . there's that nagging regret that wonders if I could have done something else to salvage it.
5.) Easter Sunday of 2000, I was driving back to school at night. Just outside of Mauston I hit, and probably killed, a wolf. It probably wasn't my fault. But man . . . a wolf. It's one thing to roll over a squirrel or bunny. But a wolf . . . that's terrible.
