Love Your Enemy

I was sitting at church on Sunday listening to a message, that I've heard a hundred times. "Love your Enemy". A message I have known about since forever....But since, I truly don't have "enemies" I usually do the 'ya-I'm-listening-but-not-really-hearing-you' thing.

But...Somehow, this message hit me differently this time.  Usually when people think of who their "enemies" are....They think of people they hate.  People who have hurt them in some unforgivable way.

Sure - I have people in my life who have hurt me...But, I began to think deeper-

What about THINGS?

Things and circumstances have hurt me far more than people.

I have something in my life that has caused hurt, bitterness, resentment, anger, pain, destructiveness and true hatefulness.  So- I think it qualifies as my enemy.

Neurofibromatosis IS MY ENEMY.  And loving it, is impossible.  Or is it?

When I began this blog 4 yrs ago...I truly despised NF.  My blog back then was called "Life in the Big Shitty"....and I blogged ranted about how horrible it was to have NF....and how my life was anything but good.

Hate doesn't feel good.  I never walked away from a blog post back then, thinking.."WOW...that was great...I hope someone reads it..."   The blog back then, was an outlet for how frustrated I felt.  Now... outlets for anger are great...Everybody needs them....But if those outlets are destructive...You will only continue to spiral downwards.

And that's where I was.  ROCK BOTTOM!

The thing about rock bottom....The only way OUT....is UP!

"Thriving with Neurofibromatosis" has NOT made me LOVE NF.  But it has made me accept it.  Thriving has given me a purpose...And I LOVE THAT!

THRIVE ON!

Customer Service? Phooey!

I know I know...This is NOT a customer service blog....But with TWO separate things that have happened in the last TWO days...I have to vent!

I have been sitting home for the last 4 hours, waiting for my "service window", to get our washing machine repaired.  I re-arranged my entire day...Including getting someone else to pick up my daughter from Kindergarten.

Sit-Wait-Sit-Wait-Sit-Wait

8am....9am....10am....11am....THEN 12pm passes.  No call.  No repair guy.

I consider myself a fairly patient person....FAIRLY PATIENT.

But nothing and I mean NOTHING irritates me more that people who disrespect my time.  

I call the 1-800 number to see what's up.  And here's what I got:

SEARS- "Ohh I am soo sorry for the inconvenience.  Our computers are down, so the repairman does not have access to his schedule." 

ME- "Seriously?  So he's just sitting around doing nothing?"

SEARS- "He usually has a print out of his next appointment, but since the computers are down, he has no idea who is next."

ME- "That's a pretty lousy system....Do you realize that people re-arrange their entire day, just to be home for the FOUR hour window you give them?"

SEARS- "That's really not our problem ma'am and there is nothing we can do."

ME- "Nothing you can do, for the people whose days got screwed up because of YOUR computers?"

****disconnected****

Called back and was told the same thing.... "WE CAN RE-Schedule!"

Ya...So I can spend ANOTHER day, waiting!  I politely asked if the NEXT repair guy could stay and do the 14 loads of laundry I have sitting in my laundry room.

I was told I would get a call back to see if that was possible.  SIGH!

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And so yesterday...My hubby and I decided to try the new LARK BURGER, that opened up just down the street from us.  I was pumped...and ready for a delicious hamburger!

The place is cool, and trendy, with a basic menu that doesn't require a #2 pencil or good test taking skills.

We order and find our way to a small table, in the back-

A few re-fills of raspberry diet coke, using their new state-of -the-art soda machine later....and we realize that people who ordered AFTER us were now tossing their garbage and leaving.

"How long ago did we order, hon?"  I ask my hubby.....

A HALF HOUR had gone by......

We flag down someone who was wiping down a table and mention our concern....

"Ohhh We don't even have record of order # 26...."

SERIOUSLY? 

10 minutes later....We get our order, along with a shallow apology, and 2 girl certificates to come back.

Uhhh...No Thanks.   I know things happen, and people screw up....But GOOD GRIEF, at least act like you care that we waited over 45 minutes for a SO-SO hamburger.

Where oh where has decent customer service gone?

That's my Tuesday vent...It felt good!

Now back to your regularly schedule blog.......................