For whatever reason in my family my sister and I have been blessed with a gene that haunts us and eventually leads to what I call "MAIL GUILT". Now mail guilt is just a broad term, included beneath it you'd find e-mail guilt, call-return guilt, birthday present guilt and on and on. Basically it is the inability to send out mail of all sorts on time , return calls in a timely manner or deliver gifts in time for the occasions they are purchase (maybe they are never purchased at all , eep!) leading to relationship guilt and or termination.
This has been fodder for discussion between us many times over and I suppose our excuse that we have produced is , sure we can be procrastinating lazy folk, but that we just love everyone so dearly.
I know that in many instances in the gift/mail department for example I just really want to get Rebekah that perfect gift which never seems to materialize in time for the due date.
Or Shannon, since I've been receiving almost 2 years worth of amazing packages I just want to send her that perfect box of love that will make up for all her unrequited efforts. I mean I have written probably a dozen letters and have been collecting oodles of treats to include in this mega package but I never send them. All because of the guilt of having waited too long and the irrational embarrassment of having her finally receive the ever elusive package I've had planned since summer 2007.
This has been in my mind lately as it can make me feel embarrassed to have contact with people I love and care about. My beautiful cousin Maria, who I adore the though of having mail-to-mail relations with, sent me a heart-warming package this summer and I have yet to respond even after she sent me an email asking if I received it. Surprise surprise, I didn't respond to that either. Why ? Well although there were circumstances surrounding my lack of send-backage-ness (not a real word) and my inability to write back (I had no home internet for a month +) I have been just plain embarrassed! So I get to a point where I avoid people if they sign online, skype me, email, call until I have nobody left and it's all because I feel the need to provide the perfect reply.
The last few months most of my favorite people have relocated to other parts of the country/world. Shannon (Toronto), Meggy (Scotland), Vikki (England), and most recently Jordan (Montreal). This gives me panic attacks to think about!! The thought of losing touch with them is devastating and I can already feel it creeping in. So I'm taking action and slowly am pulling up my socks.
Last week I started small and although it was actually the day before Halloween, I sent Rebekah a card with treats in the mail and Shannon a postcard I wrote her a month ago from Mahone Bay! Hey a girl needs to start somewhere!
I've come to realize that these people would probably rather get a crap letter or even an empty envelope from me than have me avoid speaking to them out of humiliation.
Finally I have a pat on the back and that goes out to my loveliest sister.
She knows EXACTLY where I'm coming from. For example I'm pretty sure she "bought me season 6 of the Gilmore Girls" ohhhh a year plus ago. Not that I care about the fact that it has never made it into my hands, I just like to tease her about it. I do know that she has little bitties that haunt her too though, ones that I won't mention.
This has been fodder for discussion between us many times over and I suppose our excuse that we have produced is , sure we can be procrastinating lazy folk, but that we just love everyone so dearly.
I know that in many instances in the gift/mail department for example I just really want to get Rebekah that perfect gift which never seems to materialize in time for the due date.
Or Shannon, since I've been receiving almost 2 years worth of amazing packages I just want to send her that perfect box of love that will make up for all her unrequited efforts. I mean I have written probably a dozen letters and have been collecting oodles of treats to include in this mega package but I never send them. All because of the guilt of having waited too long and the irrational embarrassment of having her finally receive the ever elusive package I've had planned since summer 2007.
This has been in my mind lately as it can make me feel embarrassed to have contact with people I love and care about. My beautiful cousin Maria, who I adore the though of having mail-to-mail relations with, sent me a heart-warming package this summer and I have yet to respond even after she sent me an email asking if I received it. Surprise surprise, I didn't respond to that either. Why ? Well although there were circumstances surrounding my lack of send-backage-ness (not a real word) and my inability to write back (I had no home internet for a month +) I have been just plain embarrassed! So I get to a point where I avoid people if they sign online, skype me, email, call until I have nobody left and it's all because I feel the need to provide the perfect reply.
The last few months most of my favorite people have relocated to other parts of the country/world. Shannon (Toronto), Meggy (Scotland), Vikki (England), and most recently Jordan (Montreal). This gives me panic attacks to think about!! The thought of losing touch with them is devastating and I can already feel it creeping in. So I'm taking action and slowly am pulling up my socks.
Last week I started small and although it was actually the day before Halloween, I sent Rebekah a card with treats in the mail and Shannon a postcard I wrote her a month ago from Mahone Bay! Hey a girl needs to start somewhere!
I've come to realize that these people would probably rather get a crap letter or even an empty envelope from me than have me avoid speaking to them out of humiliation.
Finally I have a pat on the back and that goes out to my loveliest sister.
She knows EXACTLY where I'm coming from. For example I'm pretty sure she "bought me season 6 of the Gilmore Girls" ohhhh a year plus ago. Not that I care about the fact that it has never made it into my hands, I just like to tease her about it. I do know that she has little bitties that haunt her too though, ones that I won't mention.
Anyway moving on ...I got a Halloween package from her in the mail ON HALLOWEEN DAY!! Mind you she did have to fedex it and it was past opportunity to wear the shirt she sent for the day, but it came! I was actually more surprised and excited about that than opening the package! Nice work my sister!
Trick or Treat!
Boogersssss
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