On Dark Sides and Lolly Pops...

Recently I posted a blog expressing my frustration, one hectic morning, about peanut butter—specifically that my daughter was suddenly not supposed to bring her own peanut butter sandwich (which I found out just as I’d made one, just before rushing out the door and with no back-up, non-perishable foods on hand, after years of peanut butter being OK) due to another child having a peanut allergy (who incidentally seemed to tolerate peanut butter proximity in the past).

It was a rant blog… an expression of those deep dark places we all have but we rarely reveal because people become offended and worked up when you show your dark side. Everyone must be sunshine and lollypops—inside and out—right? Ever patient, understanding, accommodating…always.

I confess, I’m not always sunshine and lollypops. Sometimes I get selfish. Sometimes I get mad. Sometimes I’m not PC. Sometimes I’m stubborn. Sometimes I’m unreasonable… Later, I generally do the right thing, but for a moment I’m downright naughty inside.

I wrote about one of these times. An anonymous commentator found it offensive and assumed that I’m universally insensitive. I guess Anonymous doesn’t have dark moments like I do, and God bless her/him for that.

I’ll tell you, most of the time, I’m doing my best to play well in the sandpit…probably to a fault. I follow the rules, say please and thank you, yield to others… I’m ever courteous…even a bit of a pushover. In the “big city” I live in, courtesy is rare… Occasionally I do tire of being nice all the time… occasionally I wanna be bad to the bone.

It occurred to me that writing about my dark side may be too intense for some viewers. (Without going overboard with mitigations, ala “of course I won’t really try to harm Neb by sending peanut butter…” “of course I’m not really that insensitive and I’ll probably figure out a way to send something else if it’s absolutely necessary…” “Of course I’m a total weenie who’d never really be this obnoxious…”)

So, OK, I take it back. You are right, Anonymous, Neb’s needs are very important and I’m a bad dog for writing an absurd blog about my own petty frustrations. In the future, when I rant, I’ll make every effort to soften it and indicate that it is only a rant and not intended to be taken seriously…that way, nobody gets hurt.

We’ll group hug. I’ll serve peanut-free organic vegan foods that don’t spoil without refrigeration in the hot sun…when I find them. I’m, as ever, open to suggestions.