Replace this image and delete this text.
Date: 11/18/22
Time: 12:15 pm
Place: Central Park West & 65th Street
I heard the voice from behind – it sounded like Buddy from the Elf movie – kind of a doofus, innocent voice. A voice reaching out to friends asking the person on the other end of the phone if she or he had plans for “Friendsgiving.”
Of course, I couldn’t hear the person’s response, but this voice was stating earnestly that he wanted to see them. I started imagining what it would be like to be invited to a Friendsgiving. Early on when we lived on the west coast we were invited to Friendsgiving, but it was really more like a “FrenemiesGiving.”
Ever heard of that one?
I wonder how many of you feel the same way? It’s not the friends who wish you well who invite you, but rather friends who feel sorry for you or feel better than you or they know you are a loser with no place to go. Those were the types of Friendsgivings I got invited to. At this age, I can discern the difference.
Anyway, back to Doofus. All of a sudden I heard him say, “I bought him Equinox – there goes $3000 I’ll never see again – oh well.” I hadn’t been in NYC long, but I immediately knew Equinox was a high end workout place. Now, I had to turn around and look at this voice. It doesn’t matter much if you turn around on Madame’s streets – no one is paying any attention to you. And certainly this Doofus wasn’t.
Imagine my shock when I saw a young, fit George Costanza look alike wearing bright orange tennis shoes walking behind me with intensity. His voice was of a Doofus and his looks of Costanza – the orange shoes made a fine exclamation point to top this character off.
I turned around and continued to walk giving my mind a moment to digest him. All of a sudden he was trying to sell his “friend” on something business related – I overheard the business of R&D in this good investment opportunity.
Yeah he wanted to see them. He smelled their money.
They had definitely gotten an invite to a “FrenemiesGiving.” Did they know that though?
Watch out! Make sure you are actually going to a FriendsGiving and not a holiday gathering of your enemies who want something from you or make themselves feel better by putting you down at their communal table and any other number of reasons you realize halfway through munching on your turkey that you are not among friends.
Why so cynical, you ask? Experience plain and simple — and not being afraid to name it.
Happy Thanksgiving to you from Madame and me.