My cover doesn't tell my story. And neither does anyone else's.
/
Our plasma TV has had some red sparkly issues on the screen, so - since it was under warranty - we called the Samsung folks on Sunday. As Lee was on the phone with them, I overheard, "Well, my wife has arthritis, so..."
As it turns out, they were offering to send someone out the next afternoon to replace some of the panels. And asking that we take the TV off the wall before they came over. A quick glance out the window showed us that the neighbors who usually help with that sort of thing weren't home. And Lee was right, his wife does have arthritis. She goes to the gym a few times a week (well, when her liver is functioning), but she can't hold things well enough to, for example, pour from a full gallon of milk. So she couldn't help much with a big ol' TV.
And she really needs to stop talking about herself in third person.
Anyway, they said it would be okay, and they would send an extra guy out to help Lee get the TV off its mount if Lee would just loosen the screws (or whatever it is that holds it up there...I don't really know). It wasn't until later that I realized that they must think we were an elderly couple because they wouldn't have to send an extra guy if Lee was capable. Lee plus one guy would have been enough.
So Monday afternoon rolled around. I was about to head to a meeting when the guys arrived. No big deal, right?
Um, no.
Older gentleman, with a bit of irritation in his tone as he pointed toward his younger partner: "Oh. I brought him because we were told that you two wouldn't be able to take the TV off the wall."
Long pause.
Questioning look.
What did I do? I just gave Lee a hug and kiss and left for my meeting as planned. I thought about explaining, but I didn't see the point of it. Would it have embarrassed him? Would it have educated him? Would it have mattered?
I don't know. I'm usually an open book, but I just didn't have the words to explain the situation with equal measures of gentleness and transparency. So I said nothing.
I do know, though, that it's had me thinking. The poor guy just didn't have a clue, and he wasn't given any indication of one as he looked at a couple in their late twenties who appeared to be in good health and in good shape. How often am I like him, assuming that what I know or what I see is the full picture? And then making judgments based on those assumption?
How many people do I pass without knowing their stories or struggles? Do I listen more than I assume? (I wish the answer to that one was yes, but it's not.) Do I treat others with grace and mercy? Or do I look at the cover of the book and think I know the contents from that?
It made me think: When have I been irritated by strangers recently? Was the source of my irritation my ignorant assumptions or their behavior (or some combination)? What keeps me from caring enough to look beyond the cover?
How 'bout you?
As it turns out, they were offering to send someone out the next afternoon to replace some of the panels. And asking that we take the TV off the wall before they came over. A quick glance out the window showed us that the neighbors who usually help with that sort of thing weren't home. And Lee was right, his wife does have arthritis. She goes to the gym a few times a week (well, when her liver is functioning), but she can't hold things well enough to, for example, pour from a full gallon of milk. So she couldn't help much with a big ol' TV.
And she really needs to stop talking about herself in third person.
Anyway, they said it would be okay, and they would send an extra guy out to help Lee get the TV off its mount if Lee would just loosen the screws (or whatever it is that holds it up there...I don't really know). It wasn't until later that I realized that they must think we were an elderly couple because they wouldn't have to send an extra guy if Lee was capable. Lee plus one guy would have been enough.
So Monday afternoon rolled around. I was about to head to a meeting when the guys arrived. No big deal, right?
Um, no.
Older gentleman, with a bit of irritation in his tone as he pointed toward his younger partner: "Oh. I brought him because we were told that you two wouldn't be able to take the TV off the wall."
Long pause.
Questioning look.
What did I do? I just gave Lee a hug and kiss and left for my meeting as planned. I thought about explaining, but I didn't see the point of it. Would it have embarrassed him? Would it have educated him? Would it have mattered?
I don't know. I'm usually an open book, but I just didn't have the words to explain the situation with equal measures of gentleness and transparency. So I said nothing.
I do know, though, that it's had me thinking. The poor guy just didn't have a clue, and he wasn't given any indication of one as he looked at a couple in their late twenties who appeared to be in good health and in good shape. How often am I like him, assuming that what I know or what I see is the full picture? And then making judgments based on those assumption?
How many people do I pass without knowing their stories or struggles? Do I listen more than I assume? (I wish the answer to that one was yes, but it's not.) Do I treat others with grace and mercy? Or do I look at the cover of the book and think I know the contents from that?
It made me think: When have I been irritated by strangers recently? Was the source of my irritation my ignorant assumptions or their behavior (or some combination)? What keeps me from caring enough to look beyond the cover?
How 'bout you?