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When I’m THAT Person

Confession time. *cringes* Sometimes I do exactly the thing I despise when other people do it. Yes, I’m THAT person. And it makes me feel worse than ashamed.

I’m sure there are dozens of examples of this shortcoming. However, a recent one nags at the back of my mind. I hope by letting it hang out here, it will stop plaguing my supposed-to-be-sleeping time.

THAT Person

Close to two decades ago now, I had my first opportunity to travel somewhere simply because my husband was going there for work.

At the time, I had two preschool-aged children, so it’s safe to say I didn’t get out much. I NEVER got out of the state.

My husband had a class in Gaithersburg, MD, which is less than an hour from our nation’s capital. He was there for two weeks and wanted me to fly down for the weekend he had to stay over.

Since it was near tax refund time, he opted to use some of the refund money to purchase my plane ticket. Other than food and entertainment (much of which is 100 percent free in DC), that was the largest expense.

At a family dinner a week or two before the trip, I was babbling excitedly about getting away and seeing the history in Washington, DC.

THAT person asked, “How long are you going to be there?”

“Two days.”

“That’s not enough time to see anything.”

Balloon of excitement immediately deflates for me. I did manage to listen as Killjoy suggested what my top sightseeing priorities should be, but really I wanted to cry.

(Much of my reaction had to do with this person because they seemed intent on demeaning anything I ever talked about or did.)

THAT Person is Me

Fast-forward to a few weeks ago.

Someone was making a spur-of-the-moment trip to Virginia with their family. They didn’t plan to have much free time, but they wanted to get to Washington, DC.

Side note: if you’re an American citizen and have never visited the nation’s capital, you owe yourself a trip. I’m not much of a history buff, but there is so much there and it brings important people and events of our national heritage to life.

My husband was talking about parking problems and other things.

I said, “A few hours? That’s not enough time to see anything.”

Yes, indeed. I actually said the EXACT same words as THAT person. In that moment, I was THAT person, throwing my wet blanket over someone else’s excitement.

My husband gave me a side-long glare, but he didn’t say anything. He still hasn’t said anything. But as often as I’ve brought up THAT person’s negative tone, I know he had to be thinking about it.

His look said, “Really? You’re going to be THAT person? Don’t you remember how crushed you felt when that happened?”

And suddenly I did.

I’m a jerk extraordinaire. I’ve plummeted to an all-time low point in human compassion.

Kill me now.

Okay, let’s not go overboard.

But it was too late to take the words back. I was no longer standing in the conversation to try and backtrack and apologize.

So here is my very public apology. I’m sorry for being a total jerk about your quick trip to DC. I hope you got to see some incredible things and soak in the nostalgic air of patriotism.

I don’t want to be THAT person. Never again.

What about you? Have you ever done something similar? Please, save me from feeling like the biggest cruel idiot in the world.

What do you think? Add to the discussion here.