I am making my way down a hill across the lawn and encounter a difficult area to negotiate. I analyze the land of land and make a decision so they don't get muck all over my shoes. I feel good about the decision and now back on the sidewalk.
I'm still trying to figure my way out and walk by a large architectural installation. There is an old area of very large sculptures and a more recent addition that are very tall and thin archways. Am I also looking ahead to my destination and see that there's a gap between where I am and where I want to go and contemplate jumping it. As I get closer I see that there is a walkway and that that idea was absurd. I am now right next to the archway and there is a young man playing with it. He's basically shaking it back and forth and while it's very tall possibly multiple stories it's just dry stacked stone and is wobbling. I asked him what he would do to improve the stability of the structure. He says add four stones. I discuss this with him and his parent and we mentioned that that would hardly be enough to stabilize it. We looked next to it and the huge old installation has large metal rods going back to stabilize it into the hill.
I am now at a very crowded candy counter and I've been separated from the people that I am with and was hoping to get a ride home with. There is an elderly woman working behind the counter. She's very nicely dressed. Something that would be stylish in the 1950s for mature woman. I asked for milk studs and then ask at their other options like milk dogs with something else. She says yes but she's uncertain of the price of the package and that that she can ask the management. I'm still hoping to negotiate a ride home so I say no that would take too long and say this in a way that is short and blunt, basically rude. I mentioned something about incompetence and immediately see that I have hurt her feelings. I mean forward to look behind the counter and see that there are no prices marked on any of the candy. Aramark that the incompetence is not on her part but then part the people who set the stand up and expected them to remember the prices of all the items.
At this point I don't know if I'm dreaming or if I'm awake and just contemplating the situation. I tell her that not only is she not been incompetent but she's been very pleasant and helpful. At the same time I acknowledge that I have been rude and that the damage is already done. I compare it to running over someone's cat with a car and then apologizing. I've been in this situation more than once and every time I do it I feel like there's a lesson to be learned but I don't learn it. In order to truly learn it I would never be rude to another person regardless of the circumstances. It never turns out to be a good idea.
This thought turns into a contemplation of my new job that I will be dealing with lots of kids that are beyond rude likely violent in some situations. How the stress of modern life is made everything difficult. Reminds me of my encounter with the employee at Dunkin donuts. I think I did handle that well. We were waiting in line forever at the drive-thru and instead of getting angry I was more contemplative. When I got to the window I asked her if she was running the place by herself she said no but they were short-handed and couldn't get people to work.. she said the work was too stressful especially in the summer when there were crowds. I wondered to myself that work was so stressful here in the Adirondacks something is truly amiss.
Notes: Half dream, half post dream contemplation, back to dream?
What does the dream want? For me be prepared for the onslaught from the Mountain Lake Academy. Life goal...never be rude again.
Reality check: Being attached by kids will be challenging...rewarding? Teach by example.
Bumper sticker: Being Rude is Never a good Idea
Dreams to action: My desires or beliefs do not entitle me to be rude, abusive or violent to others because they do not see the world as I do.
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