I felt relieved that the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in limited physical contacts with family and friends. It is already such traumatic times with the pandemic for everyone. But to my surprise, the trials and tribulations with family and friends still exist even if they are not in our physical presence.
On Christmas day, a friend texted me about getting together after the holidays. With the Covid-19 pandemic in full swing, I have no intentions of gathering with family or friends until most people, including myself, have been inoculated with the vaccine, so I kindly reminded her of the pandemic and explained that the vaccine is soon on its way to us. Then, it would be wonderful to see her.
Unfortunately, instead of texting me directly, she group texted my entire contact list from my earlier group text three years ago when I shared my then new telephone number. Throughout the Christmas day, I receive puzzled and perplex texts from my other friends about her text. I wrote to my friend requesting that she text me directly and to please delete my three year old group text, so she doesn’t inadvertently text my entire contact list again. I explained that the list included my ex-husband and a close friend and her husband who are going through a contentious divorce that caused some upset. The group text included both the husband and wife.
After my friend initiated this group text, she went on radio silence when group text members responded to her text. I finally asked everyone to please delete the group text so we can stop this futile exercise taking time away from everyone’s Christmas day activities. Not once did my friend apologize about inadvertently initiating this group text, which in retrospective, I find it all somewhat amusing and funny. She could have notify the group text members of this error to end the multitude of subsequent responses. Instead, my friend felt I mistreated her by requesting that she please text me directly, and deleting my three year old group text message so as to avoid similar situations.
This just goes to show that drama with family and friends continue whether you are seeing them in person or not. During this pandemic, nerves are frayed and tempers are short, so I decided to take a step back. In situations of conflict, we can fuel the fire or let the flames die down. I have opted to let the flames die down, and hope bruised egos will mend. Then, I will try again another day. May you find peace with the hazards of the holidays. (Copyright 2020 Awakening Journey with All Rights Reserved)