Well.
You know those times when you have a day that should have been a really good day–and it WAS a really good day–but then one person says one pissant thing and bursts the whole bubble? And you keep telling yourself “Let it go! Let it go! That’s about them, not about you! Kumbayah, My Lord, Kumbayah!” but your mind floooooooaaaats back to that meanness? And by the end of the day you think you’ve forgotten about it but as soon as you sit in the car and take a deep breath before turning your mind to what to cook for dinner and who has homework left to do…then all of a sudden you’re CRYING? And it’s not sad crying, it’s MAD crying? Then 20 minutes later you’re back to thinking about meanness and wondering if you still remember the finer points of rolling toilet paper all over someone’s yard? But you can’t do that because your husband is at a conference and you can’t leave the kids alone long enough to go t.p. some trees…oh, and you’re out of toilet paper? And you can’t take the kids with you because you’d be setting a bad example and besides they suck at being stealthy?
Anyway.
I may or may not have had a day like that today. Mind keeps floating back to meanness. Retaliation. Comeuppance. (That’s twice in a week I’ve used “comeuppance” in a post so I think it might be time for a spa day.)
Days like today, I recall an old Polish Proverb: “Not my circus, not my monkeys.” It’s their clever way of saying “Not my problem” at the same time recognizing that life is essentially a circus filled with shit-flinging monkeys. Circuses are fun, but they do smell.
So I made a little picture to unleash my creative side. If you find yourself surrounded by monkeys some day, print this out and tape it above your desk at work. Or home. Depends on the monkeys.
I’m printing that out as I type. OK, as soon as I finish typing.
It might or might not have something to do with a series of events that included a man who parked next to me at a restaurant in a not-a-parking-space and proceeded to use my passenger side door as leverage to get out of his giant truck. I now have a boot print on my window as a reminder.
Better than monkey shit, right?!
That is a boot print made out of monkey shit, right there.
Made me laugh out loud. You can even make anger/revenge/comeuppance funny. Although it did make me very curious about what brought on such a violent need for a spa day!
Oh….you can probably guess! But I’m not saying anything specific.
Hah! No problem. We’ve all been there! You just make even a Bad Day entertaining. 😉
When I use “comeuppance” twice in one week, I know I’ve been watching too much Downton Abbey.
BWAH! “I would give tuppence to assure my comeuppance, Mrs. Patmore.”
Or, “stay out of the rodeo if you don’t want the dust.”
Thank you for this–you kind of described my day. Or my week, just perhaps. I will have my kids draw me some monkeys as a reminder.
Great idea!
Printing this sucker out right now!
This post just made my day! I will print out your picture and hang it above my desk and it will make me feel better!
I hope it’s working for you, Jennifer!