My oldest friend is coming in on Friday, August 9 and staying through Monday, the 12th. We will spend the entire time at the
Fest for Beatle Fans at the Hyatt. This is good news. Better than good news, it's a
relief!
Earlier this year, she rather told me we were spending that week together. That we would "do the Fest" on Friday and Saturday, then hang around my house on Sunday and then take the Amtrak down to Springfield to see the Lincoln sites on Monday. Wednesday we'd ride the rails back and Thursday she would fly back home.
I sooooooo didn't want to do this.
First of all, I wanted to be asked. There was no asking. It was all, like, "I miss Chicago! I'm coming out there! This is what we're going to do!" I felt trapped.
Secondly, I was just in Springfield last summer with my nephew, and Abe steadfastly remains dead. There's nothing new down there for me. It's feels like a waste of vacation time when I'm trying to hoard it -- if I lose my job before Labor Day, they will include vacation pay in my severance.
Plus, she told me about this trip we were taking after I'd booked my trips to Williamsburg, Muskegon and Key West. I didn't consult her on any of those because, well, they don't involve her. But there's a limit to how much money I want to spend when my job situation is precarious.
I am flattered that she thinks it's a party to be around me. I truly am. As other connections feel less solid (see post below), I value her friendship all the more.
On the other hand, I was soooooo annoyed by this!
It's too complicated to go into, but with her new job, my at-risk job, her family and legal troubles, it's just not a good idea to do this now. She finally came to that conclusion, and now it's a truncated trip but we
both think it's the right decision.
