AUTHOR'S DISCLAIMER
***You are about to read the longest post EVER! Call it a "put it to rest" already, get if off your chest post, if you will. Ben's tired of analyzing it with me, so now it's your turn. If you don't care for the details, start w/ "I made a new friend" and skip to the LARGE PRINT. :)
About a week ago I met a lady and her two kids at the pool. We were there with friends enjoying Kaleb's end of the season, swim party. She seemed nice enough, introduced us to her husband, and mentioned she was new in town and hadn't made any friends yet. Knowing how that feels, I told her I'd be happy to introduce her to the friends I was with... no big deal.
She also started "fishing" around a bit, wondering what I do, and said she was looking for daycare for her kiddos. Since I get to stay home with my boys, I told her I wasn't much help, but I did know some people that do daycare. She gave me her email address, I gave her some recommendations. She was overly nice in her reply, thanking me profusely, full of compliments, xoxo's all over the email, etc. Hmm...not sure what to think, but she seems really nice, maybe a bit desperate for friends.
The emails go back and forth, I ask her what she does because I know she works from home, and was wondering if it could be something I could do part time. She replies it's not something you can do part time, but I could watch her kids part time. Yeah, not even remotely interested in that, so I don't respond. But I did tell her about the community fireworks festival since we didn't know about it our first year, and told her we'd be there if she wanted to meet up. This is followed by 4 phone calls from her on Thurs. (I don't even talk to Ben or my mom 4 times in one day!) and 2 calls on Friday. Now I'm annoyed, but whatever, I don't want to be rude and she must be lonely.
We shuttle to the park with the Weeks (fun 4th of July post to follow) and meet up with my new "friend" and her family. We introduce husbands and just start visiting while we're waiting for the fireworks to begin. I mention to Chrissy that I haven't been playgroup in a couple of months because it's just been too hot. She asks about it and I tell her it's a church playgroup and we all meet up on Wed. mornings at various parks, etc. She then asks what church I go to and I tell her the LDS church. She leans in like she didn't hear me and asks again, so I say louder this time, "We go to the LDS church, we're Mormon." She immediately pulls herself back, tries elbowing her husband who is standing behind her and entertaining their kids, and says in an appalled, whisper-like voice (that I can hear btw), "They're Mormon, did you hear that?!?"(At this point I think she MUST be kidding, right? I mean who says that, even if that's what they're thinking.) Her husband doesn't respond, so she says again louder, "THEY'RE MORMON, CHASE!" He completely ignores her, I guess maybe he didn't hear her, but if I was him I think I would have done the same thing even if I had. How do you appropriately respond to that...I'm sure he wants nothing to do with this train wreck! AWKWARD!
Well by now I'm pretty sure she's not kidding, and it's obvious she's shocked that her new best friend is a Mormon aka carni-freak carrying some type of deadly disease. Not knowing what else to say, I ask what church she goes to. Time passes very slowly, she says nothing for a while, then says she's only been there for 3 weeks and hasn't found a church yet. She's looking for something "really traditional, nothing new-agey, you know something that teaches straight from the Bible." We continue to talk about the various copa churches, which I know nothing about, and Chrissy knows only a little. I'm not even sure where the conversation went from there, but the fireworks eventually start, and they leave soon after.
And I guess that's the end. The barrage of phonecalls and emails have stopped, which to be honest I'm a little relieved about. But still, I never in my entire life have been treated that way over my religion, or anything else for that matter! I can't stop thinking about it, but Ben tells me I need to drop it already... he has people ask him how many wives he has all the time! Chrissy thinks I should send the missionaries to her door. LOL. Mom thinks Ben's rubbing off on me...he's always getting himself into "situations" for being too nice.
9 comments:
Holy moly Sara. What do I think about that--I think I'm glad I'm not you! Ha ha! You are such a sweetheart. It sounds like you did a nice job handling it. We'll be home next week, but I promise to only call you 2 times a day, MAX!
Ohmigoodness! That is hilarious and exactly the reason I am not very friendly at our pool. Haha. Jared always gets mad at me for not being my normal overly nice self...but honestly, is it that bad that I just like to be a private person sometimes? Sadly I have had that repulsive response to my religion...and really there isn't anything you can do. Just be thankful for the fact that she isn't stalking you anymore. I have a stalker "friend" that IS a member of the church and I don't know how to "get rid" of her so to speak. Is that bad?? HAHA. Anyways, I feel for you. But glad it is over. Might be awkward next time you see her at the pool. Haha.
You should invite her to enrichment...lol I am sorry that she acted like that. I know it doesn't feel very good. I have had similar experiences but you just have to keep on being a good example and don't take it to heart.
ha ha haaaa haa hahaaa. Oh that's too funny. Yes, we are freaky. I've been talking with the mom of Claire's school friend and she was saying that the church her son goes to was really laying it on thick that you should n't have sex before marriage. And her son was in a panic over that, and she couldn't believe they would stress it so much. I told her our church doesn't believe in sex outside marriage either and she was incredulous. She couldn't understand it at all. Huh? Who's the freaky person?
Sara - I think you did an awesome job! You were a perfect example of being nice to a new-comer and of all the nerve! She can walk away only thinking that you were so extremely nice to her even when she was so blatenly rude. I can't imagine turning so quickly on someone for their religion but I'm sure you won't regret what you said and will be so thankful for less phone calls & emails of a "needy" person. Don't let it get you down, you are awesome and nice people rock!
I feel bad for her husband...
Haha Sara! Now I wish we hadn't had to go into town that night! I would have totally offered to let her feel my horns! Chrissy actually came over and told me about it and we had a good laugh. You are such a good example, and I don't blame you for feeling a bit hot about it. Just goes to show that there is still a lot of ignorance in the world...but you handled it well, Good for you!
Robyn took the words right out of my mouth...holy moly! You are very diplomatic and kind. I'm sure it caught you off guard. It would have for anyone. Good for Chrissy telling you to send the missionaries to her door. I'm impressed! Maybe next time you could just tell her that you and Ben are part of a Zion ranch starting in Maricopa and he is looking for another wife to build his compound! haha.
Ha, Ha, Ha, Sara, I know exactly who you are talking about because I saw you talking to her at the pool and I kept meaning to ask you to introduce me, but I had to leave. Boy am I relieved! :)
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