Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)
Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Monday, April 28, 2008

Happy Days

Everything tastes better today. Has Vegemite on toast ever been so delicious? No. I am a stress-head. I worry and worry worry, and pessimistically think that if something could go wrong, it definitely will. Little e's dedication has been hanging over me for months (not so much the service, as the family picnic afterwards), and now that it's done, I feel footloose and fancy free.

I am not a good organiser of events. I don't like parties. Gatherings of more than four people make me nervous. I like to keep my worlds (my family, E's family, friends) separate. If never the twain they meet, well that's great. So while a small, low key picnic at a park for most people would be a breeze, for me it's worry and dread all the way.

How do I please everybody? My in laws like a drink, and always provide plenty of beer, but on the other hand, one of my family members' belongs to the Australian Women's' Temperance Union. It has been raining for two weeks straight. Can you have a picnic in wetlands? There are thirty adults, and only a couple of hours. How can I have a meaningful conversation with every one of them in that time? I can't. Will they go away thinking I am rude? How can I please everybody? I can't. It is all out of my control. This is what keeps me up at night. Seriously, this is the most annoying character trait. I feel like I am responsible for the worlds' happiness. It is ridiculous.

Anyhow, it is over, and I feel great. It is all new and fresh. The sun is out, So You Think You Can Dance is finally over (and I never have to hear a judge say "you have an aura of pure sunshine" again), the Tigers beat the Sharks, the boss is away today, Big Brother starts tonight (don't fight it). Oh, happy day.

7 comments:

Pedro said...

bloody generation 'x'er..

trish said...

I would've thought you'd be the start of gen y?

But Ben, you must be counselled over Big Brother. Next you'll be saying you even watch Gladiators!

Ben McLaughlin said...

i'm not sure what generation I am. Whatever the really good one is, I'm pretty sure I'm that. And Trish, give BB a go. They've apparently got a midget in the house this year. Covering thw whole spectrum of the populus. Not just a show, but a social experiment. As I said, don't fight it.

Ali said...

Ben, you should stick with the Nautilus shows ...

(But, seriously, give it up and let it go and all that to the rest of it (many a song line is playing in my head at this point). Just think of how many "events" you've been to for friends that were perhaps rather nice but nothing extraordinary ... and you went home hungry and didn't get a drink but didn't think much about it ... you've probably got much higher expectations of your own shows.)

Ben McLaughlin said...

yeah, thanks ali-- you are probably right. the whole thing was probably a much bigger deal to me than anyone else.

Well it seems you readers are too high falootin' to discuss BB with, so I will take my low-brow thoughts elsewhere. Can't I like high falootin' and low falootin' at the same time? Am I man? Do I not bleed?

Anonymous said...

I totally get your stress Ben, for public events, and oh the blessed beauty of veging out at home with just you and yours when its all over! :)

It was really a lovely picnic though :)

jen-e-ren

Ben McLaughlin said...

Thanks for feeling the pain, Jen. Oh yeah, that 'come down' at home afterwards is very sweet. I just lay on the floor in front of the tele without moving, and drooled happily:)
ps-it was great to have you guys there with us.