Carl, (husband, who has always been a half-bubble off center) talking to a young waiter at one of our local hangouts... They had been chatting a minute or so (yes, it's our fault your food's getting cold):
Waiter
Pretty good, yeah.
Carl
You're in school here? (LSU)
Waiter
Yeah, surviving.
Carl
Surviving? That doesn't sound so good.
Waiter
Oh, I'm better now.
Carl
Now?
Waiter
Yeah. Last semester was kinda tough. Two full time jobs, school and a girlfriend I wasn't getting along with.
Carl
Sounds like a lot of stress.
Waiter
I guess so. I mean, I'm not sure what a lot of stress is, you know? Like, what do I compare it to?
Carl looks at him a moment. (I think wanting to tell him the truth about what it's like owning your own business and essentially being in guerilla warfare every single day.) Looks at me. Looks back at the waiter.
The waiter double-takes, looks at me to see if he's serious. I have no clue.
Carl
Well, every day you don't set yourself on fire it's a pretty good day. Not nearly as much stress as if you were on fire. So that's how you compare.
Waiter
Wow. I hadn't thought of it like that. So I'm doing pretty good.
Carl
Glad to help.
(And people wonder where I get fodder for the stuff I write.)
Posted by toni at October 28, 2004 09:16 AMHi,
Found you through "BE" I found that very interesting to read and like the philosphy used by your hubby.
Feel free to drop in and say Hi.
Huggies
Lulu
Carl is definately my type of person. Treasure him...they make life interesting.
Posted by: jay at October 28, 2004 09:37 AMLOL, sounds like something my husband would say!
Dropped by via BE...funny and interesting site here!
Posted by: Miss Chin at October 28, 2004 09:41 AMHoney........have you seen the matches?
Posted by: Genuine at October 28, 2004 10:23 AMHi, I found you through BE. That is definetely an interesting way to look at stress.
Posted by: Oliquig at October 28, 2004 10:40 AMI hope that the waiter wasn't my little brother. He's in school full-time, in a play (he's a theater major), in a dance company, and still working in some capacity (waiter? who knows) at a BR country club. He finally lowered his stress levels by dropping a class and deciding he doesn't have to graduate in May, but I wondered how he could handle the rest. Until I remembered my own workload my last year or two at LSU. I will have to tell him the thing about being on fire. Thanks!
Posted by: Jette at October 28, 2004 11:28 AMI think this one said he was a biology major, and it was at the new Walk Ons Restaurant. Which is a chain, and I usually hate chains, but I wanted fried shrimp and didn't want to fight the crowds at Mike Anderson's. But I know what you mean -- I think back to when I went to school full time, worked 3/4 time, two kids, and somehow managed to write full scripts for class... I can't even begin to understand how I did it and stayed sane. (okay, no debating the sane part!)
That is so funny!! I wish I could have seen it. Meanwhile, it's getting a little hot in here. I better check the smoke alarms. :)
Posted by: razz at October 28, 2004 12:28 PMI had a therapist when I was a teen. I suffered from GAD, generalized anxiety disorder. I still have it but it is much more under control. I dont use drugs either. My therapist, also named Carl btw, asked me what I thought the very worst thing in the world would be. I being the 13 year old daughter of a fire fighter replied "being on fire would be the worst thing." He asked, "Well, are you on fire?" I laughed and said "No!" he looked at me and grinned and said, "Well then if you are not on fire you must be ok". That has become my moto. I am 36 and still use it. If I am not on fire I am ok.
Love and Light,
Robyn
sounds like my hubby too!
Posted by: lou lou at October 28, 2004 02:26 PMLOL. I like the way you both think.
Stress, to me, though, is not being on fire. At least when you're on fire you KNOW the solution!
Stress is having been doused in gasoline and the ex is holding a box of matches.
THAT is stress.
-G
Posted by: Garrison Steelle at October 28, 2004 03:18 PMI wish your Carl could come talk to the Hunter. We need a little perspective around here!
Posted by: TW at October 28, 2004 08:13 PMno joke, i told someone that not lighting yourself on fire means you're having a good day...because days when you do set yourself on fire never go well.
man...what are the chances?
Posted by: heather at October 29, 2004 05:08 AMI will have to remember that one!
Posted by: annette at October 29, 2004 05:26 AMFound you through BE... loved this entry, it reminds me of my husband, although he says when things sucking "it is always better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!"
Posted by: Heather at November 9, 2004 09:31 AM